Kings @ Clippers

[SacKingZZZ]

Ok, this is really going to show if that talk about Karl coaching to the abilities and needs of his personnel is real or just fluff. I'm just hoping that the first 6 minutes of the last game and almost the entire first half in this one, when the game went halfcourt style that is, have shown Karl something anyone with a brain should have seen for 4 years: COUSINS IS NOT A PICK AND ROLL PLAYER outside of pick and pop. They have run almost nothing but pick and roll with Cuz when he's been out there. Karl ditched it after the poor start against Boston and he ran it into the ground the the 2nd quarter this go around. Cousins is wasting a ton of energy setting screens up at the 3 point line and getting no looks out of it for himself. Cousins creates plays but he's not a traditional finisher in the pick and roll. That's like shoving a tree branch through a key hole.

And it looks like the realities of this "running team" are setting in. This can't be a run and gun team, just can't be.

I have to agree. I don't want to be over-reactionary over just 8 quarters but my gut tells me this style of play is horrible for our two best players. This sounds harsh but as I see it we will either need to give up on this idea of playing run-and-gun or trade Cousins and Gay. Its like oil and water.

Karl has said his system would have Cousins getting touches in a variety of ways, slashing, posting, screens, cutting, and even 3 pt shot. Karl has also said he doesn't call plays, his system is designed for the player to make decisions. So how is it the systems fault when the players aren't running it properly? Cousins is posting and running the PnR cause that's what he knows how to do. These guys haven't even learned how to run the system so how can fans already deem it doesn't work after two practices? Really.

Sent from my SM-G900T using RealGM Forums mobile app

At the start he ran Cuz in to the ground with pick and roll. Cuz got some shots out of it but I can't recall a single look off of a roll play. Pick and roll is the most simple play in the game and I'm sure that's why he went to it, but if he wants to watch 4 years of inept play in that same style he has to look no further than that last 4 years worth of Kings basketball.

They were running a post up spread system early and shocker, it translated into wins. The offense was still ragged but man, how is this so freaking hard? There have been similar championship level combos in the past like this team has right now. I'd say that's a good place to start. We'll see what Karl can do with the rest of the games and he adjusted pretty well early in both of these games which is a great sign. Now he has to know it's going to be a little harder than pick and rolling teams to death. Karl has a history of tailoring his system to fit his players so we'll see.

[SacKingZZZ]

Spoiler:

I have to agree. I don't want to be over-reactionary over just 8 quarters but my gut tells me this style of play is horrible for our two best players. This sounds harsh but as I see it we will either need to give up on this idea of playing run-and-gun or trade Cousins and Gay. Its like oil and water.

Karl has said his system would have Cousins getting touches in a variety of ways, slashing, posting, screens, cutting, and even 3 pt shot. Karl has also said he doesn't call plays, his system is designed for the player to make decisions. So how is it the systems fault when the players aren't running it properly? Cousins is posting and running the PnR cause that's what he knows how to do. These guys haven't even learned how to run the system so how can fans already deem it doesn't work after two practices? Really.

Sent from my SM-G900T using RealGM Forums mobile app

It's pretty simple in my eyes. Cousins and Gay are best utilized pounding it in the post possession after possession. We had a nice offense under Malone doing that and teams were having a hell of a time going up against our bully ball. The best counter was front Cousins and denying him the ball. Then Thompson seemed to master the high-low entry pass out of no where and fronting the post turned into death. Then we all know what happened next.

Simply put Rudy and Demarcus are not good in an uptempo game for varying reasons. They both are horrible decision makers in fast breaks. They both take horrible shots if you turn the pace up. They are both BEST in the post which seems not no longer be the emphasis. Its just a case of square peg round hole.

You seem to be saying they COULD be executing the system better. I totally agree. But is this system ever going to be OPTIMAL for their skills? The answer is plainly no. A team centered around Cousins and Gay will never succeed like this - they are not going to magically relearn their whole game. No good coach EVER asks their players do to that - let alone their best players.

The strange thing about it, and I'm not sure you can build a whole system around it, but the one pick and roll play that teams have a hard time with is the Gay/Cuz pick and roll. I'm OK with that one because at the very least it will allow Gay an open look on a pull up jumper.

You have two players that a capable of drawing double teams. Cousins has court vision like most other bigs have never achieved. Just seems so obvious to me.

[bleeds_purple]

Spoiler:

Karl has said his system would have Cousins getting touches in a variety of ways, slashing, posting, screens, cutting, and even 3 pt shot. Karl has also said he doesn't call plays, his system is designed for the player to make decisions. So how is it the systems fault when the players aren't running it properly? Cousins is posting and running the PnR cause that's what he knows how to do. These guys haven't even learned how to run the system so how can fans already deem it doesn't work after two practices? Really.

Sent from my SM-G900T using RealGM Forums mobile app

It's pretty simple in my eyes. Cousins and Gay are best utilized pounding it in the post possession after possession. We had a nice offense under Malone doing that and teams were having a hell of a time going up against our bully ball. The best counter was front Cousins and denying him the ball. Then Thompson seemed to master the high-low entry pass out of no where and fronting the post turned into death. Then we all know what happened next.

Simply put Rudy and Demarcus are not good in an uptempo game for varying reasons. They both are horrible decision makers in fast breaks. They both take horrible shots if you turn the pace up. They are both BEST in the post which seems not no longer be the emphasis. Its just a case of square peg round hole.

You seem to be saying they COULD be executing the system better. I totally agree. But is this system ever going to be OPTIMAL for their skills? The answer is plainly no. A team centered around Cousins and Gay will never succeed like this - they are not going to magically relearn their whole game. No good coach EVER asks their players do to that - let alone their best players.

The strange thing about it, and I'm not sure you can build a whole system around it, but the one pick and roll play that teams have a hard time with is the Gay/Cuz pick and roll. I'm OK with that one because at the very least it will allow Gay an open look on a pull up jumper.

You have two players that a capable of drawing double teams. Cousins has court vision like most other bigs have never achieved. Just seems so obvious to me.

You and me both my man.

Both those guys are best in the post. Just surround them with shooting and defense and we will contend.

We should be building like Memphis. Not GS and ATL. x1000

[SacKingZZZ]

It's pretty simple in my eyes. Cousins and Gay are best utilized pounding it in the post possession after possession. We had a nice offense under Malone doing that and teams were having a hell of a time going up against our bully ball. The best counter was front Cousins and denying him the ball. Then Thompson seemed to master the high-low entry pass out of no where and fronting the post turned into death. Then we all know what happened next.

Simply put Rudy and Demarcus are not good in an uptempo game for varying reasons. They both are horrible decision makers in fast breaks. They both take horrible shots if you turn the pace up. They are both BEST in the post which seems not no longer be the emphasis. Its just a case of square peg round hole.

You seem to be saying they COULD be executing the system better. I totally agree. But is this system ever going to be OPTIMAL for their skills? The answer is plainly no. A team centered around Cousins and Gay will never succeed like this - they are not going to magically relearn their whole game. No good coach EVER asks their players do to that - let alone their best players.

The strange thing about it, and I'm not sure you can build a whole system around it, but the one pick and roll play that teams have a hard time with is the Gay/Cuz pick and roll. I'm OK with that one because at the very least it will allow Gay an open look on a pull up jumper.

You have two players that a capable of drawing double teams. Cousins has court vision like most other bigs have never achieved. Just seems so obvious to me.

You and me both my man.

Both those guys are best in the post. Just surround them with shooting and defense and we will contend.

We should be building like Memphis. Not GS and ATL. x1000

I get it, Cuz and Gay are versatile, up tempo can work to a degree with them but the rest of the team has to be beyond re-tooled at the very least. We'll have to see what Karl can do both from coaching and personnel standpoint. By the end of the year he should know who fits and who doesn't. Hopefully that player isn't Demarcus Cousins.