Starting lineup?

[SacKingZZZ]

The one positive is that in the Pistons game the "pace" was a little better for the entire team. You didn't have too many incidents where the Kings were jacking quick shots before the defensive rebounder even crossed the half court line. Was that an adjustment? I would think so and hopefully it was.

But yeah, Cousins killed from 3 again and that proved to be the main difference after the team went on a scoring drought for 5 minutes. Can it be counted on just like Rudy's isos, we shall see. If that's all they got plan wise we better hope so.

[jeffjtk1234]

Yeah relying on cousins 3 pointers makes me nervous.

[SmellingColors]

Not having Collison and Curry has been pretty detrimental for continual offense which I think plays into why we had to rely on Cousins' three. Our only other real shooter is Bellinelli and we just run the same plays for him that are incredibly obvious. His shots need to come in a more organic way, but that's hard when you don't have another threat that can dribble and hit shots to take eyes away. May be wrong, but I think we're gonna see better production from Belli and have less offensive lapses even just when Curry comes back into the lineup. But especially when Collison returns.

*crosses fingers*

[City of Trees]

Categorically I believe I fall under HTHDWRTPA (How The Hell Did We Reach This Point Again)

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[benchmobbin02]

This is an open question...Do you think it was Karl's idea for Cousins to work all off season on improving his midrange and 3 point shot or do you think it was Cousins wanting to expanding his game?

DMC is still taking far more shots from the paint then he is from distance. Even last year when he really step up he was only shooting 57% from the left low post and 50% from the right low post. Dominate low post guys shoot in the 60s in the post. He wants to be a great all around player not just a great center that bangs in the post.

He has watched the great low post scorer of the modern game get beat up in the post, taking hard fouls and hits that aren't even called just cuz they are big and down there all the time (Shaq, Howard) . He knows that he has the handle, footwork and vision to take big guys from the high post and get his own shot or find a teammate. So what is the next step.

It's to be able to hit the open jumper from range. I bet as the year goes on we will see him putting this all together and have some memerable games. we already see the makings of it. It has already been established that Karl hadn't installed all of the offense he wanted to for DMC and Rudy because he was working on getting the building blocks of the system in place for a new team. I am gonna continue to preach patience and faith. #downwithyolf

[SacKingZZZ]

Let me say this to clarify, I don't think Cousins taking 3's is a problem necessarily, what I do think is that him hitting them at an inhuman rate in the games that have mattered the most may obscure certain problems that may not be fully addressed. The open 3's like in the first and last game are ones he can't pass up, but as I'm saying, can him hitting them at such a rate, or the Kings relying on that shot to eventually be the difference in the point total be counted on?

There have been positives and yes, they can build on those. In the Pistons game the pace was much better so that points to signs that they aren't just relying on "faith" and made some adjustments because that's what you do. It's not "giving up" or "losing faith" or anything like that, it's simply adjusting. Karls an all time great coach so I would fully expect him to adjust if necessary. That's what great coaches do. The team looked more in control, and as a result were able to really lock in defensive as well because they didn't have turnovers that led right into scores and they had more energy on that end as a whole.

[SmellingColors]

Probably somewhere in the middle. Cousins has talked about how he has looked to Melo to mold his game and has always wanted to shoot the midrange. Karl probably came and gave him the green light since we don't have a stretch 4 and our starting PG struggles shooting.

[SmellingColors]

The open 3's like in the first and last game are ones he can't pass up, but as I'm saying, can him hitting them at such a rate, or the Kings relying on that shot to eventually be the difference in the point total be counted on?

Over time, I think that 3 is going to become more and more reliable, but I think what it does right now is change the way opposing defenses will defend us. Cousins is already a nightmare, but the defensive scheme is likely double/triple team him in the post and/or clog the paint. But if you're worried about his 3 now? Are you gonna double team him when he's faced up at the top of the arc? Now your center is away from the basket if he's a shot blocker and that (in theory) opens up the paint for other guys that get their buckets through layups.

Basically, it's not just about him hitting the three, it's the ripple effect of what defenses have to do to adapt to a player that can do just about everything from the Center position.

[benchmobbin02]

Basically, it's not just about him hitting the three, it's the ripple effect of what defenses have to do to adapt to a player that can do just about everything from the Center position.

Exactly

[benchmobbin02]

Of course coaches will adjust thru out the season. Especially good coaches like Karl. Especially good coaches like Karl that have as much as said that they didn't have all of the things installed that the team would be running and is dealing with learning the players as much as the player are learning to play his way. Those who listened to what the people inside the org actually said and had faith in the coaches and the talent of the players will have that faith rewarded. #downwithyolf

[FrodoBaggins]

A part about DMC shooting 3s nobody seems to talk about;

LESS TURNOVERS

2 or 3 open 3s a game is only going to benefit this team

[SacKingZZZ]

The open 3's like in the first and last game are ones he can't pass up, but as I'm saying, can him hitting them at such a rate, or the Kings relying on that shot to eventually be the difference in the point total be counted on?

Over time, I think that 3 is going to become more and more reliable, but I think what it does right now is change the way opposing defenses will defend us. Cousins is already a nightmare, but the defensive scheme is likely double/triple team him in the post and/or clog the paint. But if you're worried about his 3 now? Are you gonna double team him when he's faced up at the top of the arc? Now your center is away from the basket if he's a shot blocker and that (in theory) opens up the paint for other guys that get their buckets through layups.

Basically, it's not just about him hitting the three, it's the ripple effect of what defenses have to do to adapt to a player that can do just about everything from the Center position.

It hasn't really had that effect yet, and I'd bet 9 times out of 10 teams are going to let him have that shot. No team so far has given up paint defense to contest Cousins in the games he's played. Even in the two games where he went off. Right now it looks more like that "might as well step back a few feet and trade a 2 for a 3" kind of thing a few on this board have brought up before.

[benchmobbin02]

Well, that was only the second time he has had major success shooting from that range. Let it happen a few more time and teams will start thinking about stepping out to stop a guy that has proven he can knock down wide open treys. In the mean time, DMC gets wide open looks. Not a bad thing unless you believe he should only be 3 feet from the basket.

[SacKingZZZ]

Well, that was only the second time he has had major success shooting from that range. Let it happen a few more time and teams will start thinking about stepping out to stop a guy that has proven he can knock down wide open treys. In the mean time, DMC gets wide open looks. Not a bad thing unless you believe he should only be 3 feet from the basket.

He's too versatile to stick to any place on the floor, but I still see teams choosing to let Cousins destroy them from outside rather than let him destroy them from inside. If they want him outside more I'd really like to see Cuz in more of a passing role with players cutting off screens, the Kings have looked good when they've done it.

[benchmobbin02]

We agree, that is what I was saying. He is expanding his game to be more than a low post or high post guy. Now teams have to worry about his midrange and 3pt jumper and his passing from those positions to help his teammates get easy looks. Why would he pass if the team is gonna sag off and let him shoot open 3's if he proves that he can hit them(shooting 42%). Pretty good for a guy that's 6'11, 265 or anyone not named STEPH Curry, for that matter.

As teams start to come out and try to contest the shots, he can either pass, as you said you would prefer or take the closing defender off the dribble and make a play in the paint(shot or pass). That will lead to more chances to get to the line, more chances to finish at the rim with creativity like he can, more chances to dump off to open bigs in the lane and more chances to hit open shooters when their defenders collapse on the drive. It will also provide more opportunities for turnovers. It will be a process and it may not be smooth but that is how new skills are gained.

But I'm sure the first time, he has a few turnovers out of these plays the YOLFs will be howling again that he shouldn't be handling the ball on the perimeter...that is until he has a nice lob to WCS or a few kickouts to open shooters or gets a 4th foul on the opposing teams other big.

[SmellingColors]

To get back on the starting lineup topic, really nice showing from McLemore last night vs the Nets. If he gives us 2-3 more games of this I'd like to seem him retake that starting role.


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