[Game] Kings v. Thunder - Tuesday, Nov. 7 - 7 PT

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#1
First and foremost, I love when Daylight Saving Time ends. To me, the extra hour is a bonus to be cherished and used to full advantage. In other words, I sleep. :)

On this just concluded road trip, I think we saw a lot of times when the Kings were asleep. No energy, no focus, no attention to detail. By the time, for example, Joerger finally pulled WCS and sent him to the bench, I was thinking to myself it was a very good thing they weren't playing in G1C. Willie came back better but how long is that going to last? It's one thing if a player just isn't good enough. It's another thing altogether if he is good enough but just doesn't put it out there on the court.

Doug and Jim have talked in the pre-game about Joerger's rotation and the problems with trying to give minutes to 12 players. That's got to end at some point. We're only a few weeks into the season, so I still have a little patience but I hope eventually (and sooner rather than later) to see a shorter rotation.

The Thunder come to town with either a 4-5 or 5-4 record, depending on the Sunday night result in Portland. On paper, they're a lot better than their record suggests. I don't expect the Kings to win, but I'd sure like them to be competitive and show some fire. I'd also like to see more 'arms up in your face" defense. I'd like to see them channel Doug Christie at least once in a while. And, if necessary, I'd like to see Jack Cooley out there just to let Steven Adams know we've still got somebody on the roster who won't put up with his crap.

My prediction for starting lineup:

Hill
Bogs
Jackson
Z-Bo
WCS
 
#2
Looking forward to being there Tuesday. Spent today reading all the after game commentary and then watching the lasst 3/4 of the game last night. I liked most of what I saw and came away wondering where all the clubbing of Hill, Zbo, WCS, and others came from. Even the above WCS bashing and Joerger rotation comments make me wonder. Play is getting better but not god enough for the rotation to be shortened. More patience is called for. We are climbing the mountain but we have a ways to go before we reach the base camp and after that we have the other half of the mountain to climb. Our guys are growing on the job, all of them, some a lot slower than others.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#4
Looking forward to being there Tuesday. Spent today reading all the after game commentary and then watching the lasst 3/4 of the game last night. I liked most of what I saw and came away wondering where all the clubbing of Hill, Zbo, WCS, and others came from. Even the above WCS bashing and Joerger rotation comments make me wonder. Play is getting better but not god enough for the rotation to be shortened. More patience is called for. We are climbing the mountain but we have a ways to go before we reach the base camp and after that we have the other half of the mountain to climb. Our guys are growing on the job, all of them, some a lot slower than others.
1. WCS doesn't always look like he's tuned in to the game. I don't think it's bashing him to point out the obvious.
2. I said specifically that I understand the rotation for now, but hope at some point Joerger will be able to shorten it as he learns which players deserve more playing time.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#5
Rotation will not be shortened anytime soon. He's experimenting with things right now. All good.
I said I still have a little patience but that won't last forever. I fully understand that Joerger is experimenting with combinations right now, but at some point he has to start giving more attention to the guys who are gonna pay off in the long run.
 

dude12

Hall of Famer
#6
I said I still have a little patience but that won't last forever. I fully understand that Joerger is experimenting with combinations right now, but at some point he has to start giving more attention to the guys who are gonna pay off in the long run.
And thus the problem with so many young guys on the roster. I can see this going on for a majority of the season, not all of it, but quite a bit. I have no problem with what he's doing. People complain every game about who he plays but damn, he's changed the starting lineup, he's juggled PT for guys, he's sat vets on rest days, he's sat some guys for lack of production(Skal, WCS), he's let different units get burn when they are playing well.

He says after games that he kept Mason in against Ish because it was a great opportunity for Frank to face someone unique. He's trying to develop not 1 but TWO rookie PGs as well as playing a 3rd PG in vet Hill. It's tough to do.
 
#8
And thus the problem with so many young guys on the roster. I can see this going on for a majority of the season, not all of it, but quite a bit. I have no problem with what he's doing. People complain every game about who he plays but damn, he's changed the starting lineup, he's juggled PT for guys, he's sat vets on rest days, he's sat some guys for lack of production(Skal, WCS), he's let different units get burn when they are playing well.

He says after games that he kept Mason in against Ish because it was a great opportunity for Frank to face someone unique. He's trying to develop not 1 but TWO rookie PGs as well as playing a 3rd PG in vet Hill. It's tough to do.
Loved seeing Mason on Ish. Joerger and his staff will work out a rotation. They really have no one to guard the players like Tobias Harris. Big 3's/stretch 4's that move too well for Skal or WCS to defend on the perimeter. I would really love for Vlade to find a 3 who is at least 6' 8" and is really a good defender. At this point I would not mind seeing Sampson try out that role.
 
#9
Loved seeing Mason on Ish. Joerger and his staff will work out a rotation. They really have no one to guard the players like Tobias Harris. Big 3's/stretch 4's that move too well for Skal or WCS to defend on the perimeter. I would really love for Vlade to find a 3 who is at least 6' 8" and is really a good defender. At this point I would not mind seeing Sampson try out that role.
I must say, I'm still disgruntled that we didnt end up taking Demarre Carrolls contract. Brooklyn got Torontos first and a second for taking him. Meanwhile, Carroll responses with a career year. He would help us on offense and defense so much without being too good to carry us to meaningless wins. He is also knows as a good guy. And if he keeps his play up, Brookyln might get another pick if they decide to trade him again.
 
#11
I apologize VF for my critical comments above about yout post. I'll do better.

May God have mercy on your soul.
I like your post. However I’ll add that as usual for me I’m looking forward to being there for the game tomorrow night. They are interesting for me to watch. I see us making steady but slow growth to this point. I do hope there is mercy on my soul as well but not because I go to the game.
 
#15
Pro's like George Hill don't take days off without good cause. Something tells me there is a non-basketball related issue that is bothering him. Give the guy the benefit of the doubt and some time to get it worked out.
 
#17
Pro's like George Hill don't take days off without good cause. Something tells me there is a non-basketball related issue that is bothering him. Give the guy the benefit of the doubt and some time to get it worked out.
If there is, I hope that it’s reported.. it’s been since preseason, since I’ve seen him in a Kings Jersey, where he hasn’t been on par and putting up the solid 15 ppg type veteran he was expected and paid as.. If there is an injury, I haven’t heard anything (other than him missing that game with the minor groin).. I suppose there could be something personal but again, for me, we are talking since the beginning of preseason.
 
#19
I saw a lot of progress in the last two games. Confident we will see the best of what our current team has to offer since it's a home game and we need this one for morale. Also, Willie showed fire in the second half of the Pistons' game, so I hope this carries over. I expect Willie to have a huge night, while Fox has double figure assists. Go Kings!
 
#20
I must say, I'm still disgruntled that we didnt end up taking Demarre Carrolls contract. Brooklyn got Torontos first and a second for taking him. Meanwhile, Carroll responses with a career year. He would help us on offense and defense so much without being too good to carry us to meaningless wins. He is also knows as a good guy. And if he keeps his play up, Brookyln might get another pick if they decide to trade him again.
This is my biggest criticism of front office number of years. Ive been screaming for team to use its cap on bad contracts in exchange for picks. You can get a character vet thsi way. Just because contract is bad doesnt reflect on guys character. Instead we spent on Hill and ZBO tsk tsk
 

SacTownKid

Hall of Famer
#21
On court play aside, the biggest fail this season might be the lack of the white home uni's so far! I read from a bunch of different journalists in the summer that they thought they were the best in the league. So will we still see the same boring purple uniforms in this game, or will they change it up a bit? I'm starting to believe this all boils down to on court style, hahaha, change might do them some good.
 

Kingster

Hall of Famer
#22
I just hope it's earlier enough in the season that the Thunder have not yet gotten it together and late in enough in the season that the Kings will see some distinct progress in their game.

Let the real George Hill show up to this game. I want to see some fire and aggression from him, a 180 from what we've seen so far this season.
 
#25
That matchup scares the crap out of me. I just don't foresee any way WCS comes out on the winning end.
Has to make him run the floor and find a way to get a couple of fouls. Don't like his chances, but we should be able to tell if WCS has gotten a bit tougher tonight from last season. This one is a heck of a lot more than boards.
 
#28
We don't have anyone that can guard Paul George and Carmelo. Especially Carmelo at PF. I'm not sure if the Willie/Adams matchup is going to matter either way if we can't stop those guys.