[Game] Kings v. Cavaliers - 1/13/17 - 7:30PT/10:30ET

Is it just me, or does it feel like Temple has been pretty bad this game?

What do you say gang, moral victory?

What do you say gang, moral victory?

Final result was about what I expected. No way Cavs were going to have a losing streak going into the Warriors game.

The terrible first quarters continue to plague this team though. I think I read somewhere that we're last in the NBA in first quarter point differential and positive for the other three quarters.

Cavs were coasting. This team is building a terrible habit of laying an egg for one quarter of each and every game.

I don't see it as habit of egg laying as much as talent discrepancy that manifests into deficits more often than not when other variables are equal (injuries, schedule)...the sad thing is line-up changes of Temple and Tolliver have improved performance, but these guys are modest in what they can do. Inserting them as starters was never the plan. They've been forced into these roles due to the failure of (1) Ben (2) Willie (3) Affalo. Barring an impactful trade, I see this team being out of the playoff picture by February. NO and Portland are going to leave us in the dust within 2-3 weeks unless Vlade pulls a rabbit and a miracle out of his hat.

The game was lost in the 1st quarter when we had 9-10 turnovers. You just can't do that against a team like this. I absolutely do give the team credit for not hanging their heads and making a game out of it at the end. The 2 most impressive things (from the King's view) that I saw tonight was 1) Cousins was passing the ball extremely well (he's become deadly passing out of the post) and 2) Temple -- how can you not love this guy and his "never say die" attitude? He's always playing hard.

It's games like this that make it extremely evident just how incompetent our roster is and just how many holes we have. I'm glad Rudy played better in the 2nd half, but the 1st half was such a disaster for him, which resulted in us having a bad 1st half. Whatever Rudy's problem is, it's between the ears. If Temple starts, SG isn't such a problem for us, although we still are lacking there. PF is obviously a huge hole, but the biggest problem I saw last night?

We don't have a competent PG. Lawson played well, but DC absolutely cannot run a team. I hate everything about him when it comes to setting up plays. Needless dribbling, poor entry passes, and bad decision making (offense and defense). Several times he went to the hoop and threw up complete garbage that had no prayer of going in. He never makes a quick pass --- several times Cousins had his man pinned at the elbow and was ready to roll to the basket after he set his pick and DC just never gave him the ball. In regards to Lawson, he simply isn't a long term solution either.

When the going gets tough, the Kings don't have anyone who can score if Cousins is taken away as an option and we don't have anyone on the roster who can get someone an easy basket. Rudy is a ball hog, DC is incompetent and Temple isn't that type of player. The only one who can maybe do that in a pinch would be Lawson.

I will say this, it's pretty impressive that we can hang in games like we do with the lack of talent on this roster. Kudos to the players and coaching staff, but we definitely need some significant changes.

I mostly agree with your assessment. This roster has two definitive keepers, two guys you probably want to keep, and rookies in the wings. Besides that it is appropriate to blow up this roster sooner than later. The idea this team can make a playoff run as constructed is fantastical.

Keepers:

• Boogie
• Temple

Probable Keepers

• Lawson
• Koufos

Non-Keepers

• Everyone else who hasn't played in Reno

P.S. I guess Omri is a keeper too, but he gives it away too much for my taste, and drives to the rim too often without a plan. Fair to add him to the probable group.

Hey you and Vlade are on the same page.

Full contracts for the next seasion: Boogie, Temple, Koufos, Reno gang + WCS (and probably Barnes will keep paycheck)
Easy to buy out for peanuts or opting out: Afflalo, Guy, Tolliver
No contract: Collison, BMac, Omri, Lawson

Oh, goodie, we need PGs again. I already have this sinking feeling. If we had one upper level PG, we would be a whole lot better. I do not mean Rondo but a guy who would fit with Joerger. I feel sick. As a franchise who has difficulty attracting FAs, we are in a pickle.

Oh, goodie, we need PGs again. I already have this sinking feeling. If we had one upper level PG, we would be a whole lot better. I do not mean Rondo but a guy who would fit with Joerger. I feel sick. As a franchise who has difficulty attracting FAs, we are in a pickle.

one keeper at the time.

This off-season we got Temple, with good chances of Bogdanovic and at least Malachi or Skal to be part of the rotation the next year.
Will see if there is some keeper to get for Rudy and the disposable gang before the trade deadline.
Next off-season, we will grab a keeper if we can, and stockpile with short term veterans for places we do not fill with keepers.

While I understand impatience after years of sucking, Kings are well positioned to grow slow and steady.
With Vlade/Joerger/Cuz (extension in the summer), Kings have stability, direction, no bad contracts and time.

Now, with all the above said, how about not that far fetched fast track
If we pull Rudy for Dragic (or Knight) and throw max at Millsap in the summer (the only important FA in this story) our line up is:
PG: Dragic, Lawson (or equivalent)
SG/SF: Bogdan, Temple, Barnes
PF/C: Cuz, Millsap, KK
The rest: Malachi, Skal, short term veteran fillers or potential leftovers (WCS, Collison, Tolliver, Afflalo)

One can dream.

Methinks you're underestimating the ability of both those teams to also be incompetent. New Orleans is playing much better than they were at the start of the season but they're also prone to streaks of frustrating suckiness themselves. And Portland just followed up two great wins with a bad loss to the Magic at home.