Training camp roster/Media Day (merged)

dude12

Hall of Famer
The one prerequisite for either taking a shot, or making an assist is, you have to have the ball in your hands. JT seldom touched the ball last season, and as I just pointed out, he averaged a paltry 6 shot attempts a game, and, he shot over 50% from the floor, so when he did shoot the ball, he was efficient. I've never had a problem with JT's offense, or his rebounding. My problem has been his defense. He's actually a pretty good man to man defender away from the basket. Not so much under the basket, but he has improved. Where he's weak is in team defense. The doesn't defend the pick and roll well, nor does he rotate to defend the basket at times. Too many times last season when Cousins left his man to stop the ball, JT failed to rotate to Cousins man. I firmly believe that's why he lost his job to Evans, who isn't as quick as JT, but he knows how to play team defense.
I don't hate JT or anything like that, I just would like to see him moved. And I don't think I'm "looking" for things or soundbites to hold against him. I just think this last part or interview reinforces my belief that JT thinks he's better than he is meaning he won't accept the role we need him in. Compare Evans and JT. Would you ever hear Evans say that he wants or needs to be involved in the offense more? No. The guy has survived by doing the things his teams need him to do and he's been part of the solution for many, many good-great teams. I hope JT can contribute in a great way this year but part of me is wondering if all of this praising of JT is part of a promoting JT so that they can move him. It's part of the game, promote the hell out of the guy you want to deal.
 
i got the same impression from JT's interview. he sounds more worried about scoring points than defense or passing, which would be fine in any other situation except ours, in which we need passing and defense from him moreso than points.
 
I don't hate JT or anything like that, I just would like to see him moved. And I don't think I'm "looking" for things or soundbites to hold against him. I just think this last part or interview reinforces my belief that JT thinks he's better than he is meaning he won't accept the role we need him in. Compare Evans and JT. Would you ever hear Evans say that he wants or needs to be involved in the offense more? No. The guy has survived by doing the things his teams need him to do and he's been part of the solution for many, many good-great teams. I hope JT can contribute in a great way this year but part of me is wondering if all of this praising of JT is part of a promoting JT so that they can move him. It's part of the game, promote the hell out of the guy you want to deal.
You've just identified Evans' weakness and JT's strength in the competition for the PF position. Don't agree with your characterization of JT at all.

As others have pointed out on here, JT HAS been left out of the offense in recent years and I think it has been to the disadvantage of the team's W-L record. So please read his remarks the right way.
 
I don't hate JT or anything like that, I just would like to see him moved. And I don't think I'm "looking" for things or soundbites to hold against him. I just think this last part or interview reinforces my belief that JT thinks he's better than he is meaning he won't accept the role we need him in. Compare Evans and JT. Would you ever hear Evans say that he wants or needs to be involved in the offense more? No. The guy has survived by doing the things his teams need him to do and he's been part of the solution for many, many good-great teams. I hope JT can contribute in a great way this year but part of me is wondering if all of this praising of JT is part of a promoting JT so that they can move him. It's part of the game, promote the hell out of the guy you want to deal.
The difference is ... JT is not Evans. They are different players. We often think of teams as consisting of stars and role players, but we sometimes forget that there are different kinds of role players. Not every role player is Tony Allen or Thabo Sefolosha or Reggie Evans who's just expected (and themselves are comfortable with) staying out of the way on offense completely. As long as JT isn't demanding shots (which an objective listen to his interview would suggest) and is fine with getting his within the offense I don't see why we need him to become the second coming of Reggie Evans. Keep in mind he is also the longest tenured King on the team right now, and isn't exactly an old player (28!). He's still playing for his next contract, and I doubt he's content with just being a 3mil/yr 3rd or 4th big at this point of his career (in which the teams he's been on have accomplished nothing)
 
I don't hate JT or anything like that, I just would like to see him moved. And I don't think I'm "looking" for things or soundbites to hold against him. I just think this last part or interview reinforces my belief that JT thinks he's better than he is meaning he won't accept the role we need him in. Compare Evans and JT. Would you ever hear Evans say that he wants or needs to be involved in the offense more? No. The guy has survived by doing the things his teams need him to do and he's been part of the solution for many, many good-great teams. I hope JT can contribute in a great way this year but part of me is wondering if all of this praising of JT is part of a promoting JT so that they can move him. It's part of the game, promote the hell out of the guy you want to deal.
Come on bro. Did you listen to Cuz talk about JT? So your hypothesis includes Cousins just purely lying to us and in cahoots with a management plan to move JT. Do you realize how out of character that would be for Cuz. Say what you want about him, but he's just about the most genuine and honest guy on the team. NO bs.

BTW Evans does those things because he is a highly specialized player. He doesn't have the all around skillset JT does.
 
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How dare Jason Thompson! Wanting to score, rebound, pass and defend better. What a selfish jerk.
You will find many people around these parts who think its a travesty that Rudy and Cousins each don't take 50 FGA per game and anyone else who even dares to think about putting the ball in the hole is a selfish cancer.
 
I don't hate JT or anything like that, I just would like to see him moved. And I don't think I'm "looking" for things or soundbites to hold against him. I just think this last part or interview reinforces my belief that JT thinks he's better than he is meaning he won't accept the role we need him in. Compare Evans and JT. Would you ever hear Evans say that he wants or needs to be involved in the offense more? No. The guy has survived by doing the things his teams need him to do and he's been part of the solution for many, many good-great teams. I hope JT can contribute in a great way this year but part of me is wondering if all of this praising of JT is part of a promoting JT so that they can move him. It's part of the game, promote the hell out of the guy you want to deal.
But that's partly because JT can be an effective offensive player while I'd rather Evans never touch the ball on that end of the court.
 

gunks

Hall of Famer
Cuz:

"We have an identity: its being a defensive team. Its just about buying in."

I kind of snickered when I heard that....But at the same time, I really want to be optimistic. Love that Cousins is going to take it on himself to be the defensive anchor. We saw what he could do in the FIBA tournament. If his conditioning allows it, Cousins can kill on both sides of the court.

Cousins and Malone are on the same page.... Come on PDA, get us defenders!
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
DMC saw what defense could do in the FIBA tournament. The fact he wants to bring back what he learned to the Kings and get the rest of them to buy in is just one in a long list of reasons my respect for him continues to grow.
 

kingsboi

Hall of Famer
DMC wants to be a two way player, which is great. There aren't many in the league. We will have to see if he can fit that bill this season, will be interesting to see.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
You will find many people around these parts who think its a travesty that Rudy and Cousins each don't take 50 FGA per game and anyone else who even dares to think about putting the ball in the hole is a selfish cancer.
I have to side with rainmaker on this. I'd like to read some of the posts you're referring to, since I obviously also missed them.
 

dude12

Hall of Famer
I wonder when this all-around player some of you are saying JT is is going to show up. I mean he's been here awhile, we have all seen him play. So if I'm reading some of these posts correctly, then JT should be part of the offense....meaning we are going to run plays for him? Or if he's got the 15 foot open J, he needs to take it, while he is moving the ball....that's probably what is meant.

I just don't see the same player that some of you see.
 

rainmaker

Hall of Famer
i'm very happy to hear that cousins wants to be the defensive anchor. he has always had the measurements to be an elite rim protector, and he certainly has the talent for it.
Yeah it's good to hear. Seems committed on that end. However, despite his confidence in himself and overall enthusiasm, we still need to get a better defender next to him at the 4 and a better defensive backup center too.

That obviously won't happen now, maybe it will in Feb, maybe next summer, maybe even beyond that. But to become a legit playoff team we'll need to continue to add defensive pieces.

Just because a Shaq or a Duncan were good defenders didn't mean they didn't have above average defenders next to them. Really, I take it as Cuz not making any excuses, saying publicly he'll do his best and can get the job done, but it still doesn't mean our FO doesn't have to put a better defender next to him who compliments him better than any big we currently have.
 

dude12

Hall of Famer
After I just posted, I read Rotoworld and saw that Stan Van Gundy called Andre Drummond and Josh Smith Defensive Player of the Year types. I like Josh Smith's defense at the PF position but Defensive POY?!?!

There is a lot of high praise going around the training camps right now.
 
After I just posted, I read Rotoworld and saw that Stan Van Gundy called Andre Drummond and Josh Smith Defensive Player of the Year types. I like Josh Smith's defense at the PF position but Defensive POY?!?!

There is a lot of high praise going around the training camps right now.
Preseason is the time of year where all these teams talk a lot of nonsense... to be honest, there aren't that many great defensive players in the NBA anymore. If Harden can make the defensive team, that speaks high volume.
 

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
I wonder when this all-around player some of you are saying JT is is going to show up. I mean he's been here awhile, we have all seen him play. So if I'm reading some of these posts correctly, then JT should be part of the offense....meaning we are going to run plays for him? Or if he's got the 15 foot open J, he needs to take it, while he is moving the ball....that's probably what is meant.

I just don't see the same player that some of you see.
It's possible that you're incorrectly conflating "all-around player" with "good all-around player." Thompson has been consistently (and accurately) described as a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none type.