[Grades] Grades v. Spurs 11/28

Assuming both teams with full health, what would happen if we were the #8 seed and the Spurs the #1?

  • Spurs win 4-0

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Spurs win 4-1

    Votes: 10 17.5%
  • Spurs win 4-2

    Votes: 23 40.4%
  • Spurs win 4-3

    Votes: 7 12.3%
  • Kings win 4-3

    Votes: 9 15.8%
  • Kings win 4-2

    Votes: 7 12.3%
  • Kings win 4-1

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Kings win 4-0, give Pop an atomic wedgie after the sweep

    Votes: 1 1.8%

  • Total voters
    57
  • Poll closed .

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#1


Well, nobody particularly has to hang their head on this one. And that's both the good and bad of it. We came out, played together, and competed. Almost everybody made a contribution of some sort. But...you never got the feeling this game was really in doubt. We played hard, but the Spurs kept us conveniently sitting out at about a 8-13pt deficit almost the entire game. We never could make a serious run, they always had an answer. I don't think they were toying with us, but the result did seem pretty preordained. And so watching the game was just a throwback to the last 8 years for us -- the well we'll probably lose but hey, it would be cool if we could somehow pull one out style of watching. Less stressful to be sure. but also just a less entertaining watch than we've gotten used to this year with all the tension of hoping and expecting to win, and wanting and needing it to happen.

Anyway, no real blame to throw around in this one. Our guys tried. Just sans Cuz on the road against the champs = just not good enough. Nothing more to it. Now its back home for the megahomestand of megahomestands (see my Home Sweet Home thread). And if we can just have all our personnel available, an opportunity to REALLY make some noise after a month of hellish matchups.

Boxscore

Stats: 35min 23pts (9-17, 1-2, 4-6) 8reb 8ast 1stl 0blk 1TO
Gay ( A- ) -- Gay was coming back from injury that kept him out for a couple of games. However, this time he started without Cousins suffering from stomach virus. Therefore, the leadership was on him. Surprise starter at center was Ryan Hollins who so far had only occasional minutes here and there. Without hesitation Rudy was trusting Hollins finding him in the paint. Hollins reciprocated by putting the balls in. This combo was the backbone of the Kings offense most of the first quarter. The one (sloppy) pass Rudy tried to give Collison resulted in a TO and an easy basket in the other end. Collison playing somewhat low profile game, Gay was bringing up the ball and keeping the game under control. And, yes, coming out from the first quarter the game was tied at 14 points. Coming back in the second quarter, Gay had a few flashy moves scoring a great pass to Hollins leading to FTs. Leonard was causing problems to keep causing changes to keep Duncan. Gay started the third quarter trying to keep in from of Leonard. Copying Casspi, drawing fouls from uneasy shots. Nice passes, but nobody to capitalize on them finally making it by himself from a really difficult shot. Then a rainbow. Uncontrolled drive resulting in a present by getting the call to continue possession, but finally missing a bad shot. After a breather, Rudy came back shooting, passing and rebounding, seeing the whole floor. Clearly the dominating King on the floor. Now going also for his 3-pointers. All in all a very good game without the support from DMC. The Spurs 3-point shooting was hot tonight. Without that, the King would have pulled this home. The Kings small forwards did their part in the contest. I think Rudy earned his grade by his very balanced game. --Kingston

Stats: 30min 4pts (2-4, 0-0, 0-0) 9reb 1ast 0stl 2blk 2TO
Thompson ( C- ) -- JT played 30 minutes in last nights game, and it just didn't feel like he was on the floor for that many minutes. That usually means, that either you quietly played a very effective game, or, you were just a spectator while on the floor. In JT's case, it was a little of both. With Cousins out, it was a night where his teammates had to pick up the offensive void he left. So, it was a chance for JT to shine. Going into the game, JT was the only player on the team over 6'9" with the experience and somewhat proven track record of putting up big games when needed. I guess someone forgot to tell JT, because he played the game exactly the same way he would have, if Cousins had been on the floor. When he started the game by establishing position about 12 feet from the basket on the left elbow, and hitting a jumpshot, I thought OK, here we go. He followed that by playing excellent defense on the right baseline against Diaw, causing him to miss. So he was off to a good start. It was at that point that he pushed the button on his cloaking device, and slowly disappeared. Oh he had his moments here and there, like a couple of nice blocks. Or a pass to a cutting Gay for a layup. But for every positive, he contributed a negative. Like the lazy pass for a turnover near the end of the game, but with the game still wihin the reach of our finger tips. He did pull down 9 rebounds while scoring his usual 4 points. So it wasn't so much about what he did, but what he didn't do. On a night when the team needed a lot of help, especially on the offensive side of the ball, JT brought his lunch bucket, blue collar everyday game. And if I thought that was all he was capable of, I'd be OK with that. But we've all seen him have those big games from time to time, and I just didn't see the effort on his part to try and step up. I didn't see JT battling for position in the post and waving for the ball. I didn't see JT cutting to the basket when the Spurs defense collapsed on one of his teammates. I didn't see JT ahead of everyone running the floor on a break. On a night when we needed JT to step up and be a hero, sadly he deferred. It wasn't totally his fault. The team as a whole played very selfish basketball, with way too many isolation plays. Stauskas was on the floor for around 7 minutes, and only touched the ball once on the offensive end. And that was early in the clock. There was very little ball movement, quick shots, and driving into traffic without a plan. Sometimes JT, just doing the job expected of you isn't enough --Baja

Stats: 26min 15pts (5-7, 0-0, 5-6) 6reb 0ast 0stl 1blk 2TO
Hollins ( A ) -- DeMarcus WHO??? The silver lining to this loss may have been our discovery of a GREAT trade chip in Cousins, as with Boogie Hollins around it no longer appears we need that pretender Cousins. Of course the new Boogie does things in a little more efficient manner as throughout the early going he smartly waited for the Spurs to foolishly shift their attention to Rudy or one of our other lesser talents, and then took advantage off the ball as he exploded for 8 first quarter points while outdueling that scrub Duncan. He quickly slipped an interior screen and got a dunk from Gay, added a post hook, took another pass from Gay for a dunk. and then a follow off an offensive board. He had 8 points before the Spurs could say Ryan Hollins future hall of famer, at which time we got a little full of ourselves and tried to intentionally post him up vs. Duncan, which oddly did not work. He was removed fairly early for Derrick Williams to go chase around Matt Bonner on the perimeter, as the Spurs decided if you can't beat Ryan Hollins, better ran away to the three point line like wusses. When he returned he was feisty, wrestling with Duncan (Duncan in fact should have been called for an offensive foul) challenging shots (not always intelligently, but he was active), doing a nice job boxing Duncan off the glass (typically I hate that excuse for why you don't grab boards yourself, but in this case it was obvious what he was focused on), and running the floor hard in BOTH directions, beating the Spurs down one way for a quick postup before they were ready, saving a sure basket with a chase down foul of Kawhi the other. When he fought for an o-reb and got fouled near the end of the half he had dumped in 13pts and poor Boogie had to be watching at home on his sickbed as he lost his starting job and thinking he was hallucinating. We started the second half as we often do with our center, trying to punch the other team right in the face until they say uncle. And so Ben came out of the lockerroom and set the Raging Ryno up for another inside hoop to get him to 15 points, only 4 off his career high, and probably well on his way to a 30pt night and All Star bid. But it was not to be. he turned it over trying to actually create for himself a minute later, finally got stopped at the rim by Duncan after he took another drop off pass from Rudy, and worst of all, had to fight both the Spurs desperate single teaming and his own coach, who oddly decided to limit his second half minutes and play lesser talents. Maybe that was a savvy directive from the front office to keep form having to pay Hollins max next summer, not sure. But it did seem an odd thing to do to probably our 2nd best player on the night. Now the question becomes, after struggling all year to find a tall guy to play behind Cousins, when you finally give the one you have a chance and he performs well, will he begin to get regular rotation minutes? Anyway, this was Ryan Hollins we are talking about, and this was one of the highest scoring nights of his career. He at least gave us a fighting chance.--Brick

Stats: 41min 14pts (6-9, 2-2, 0-0) 3reb 2ast 1stl 0blk 3TO
McLemore ( B- ) -- a game raising the question, how much is one really good quarter worth on a grading scale? Ben's first half was a pit. He came out and looked like he was trying rather too hard, trying to press the issue on the break but having ballhandling misadventures, charging into the defense and getting blocked, failing to catch passes cleanly, and missing the only jumpers he did take, and then just politely disappearing for the rest of the half. Defensively it wasn't a total disaster, but Green was bombing his threes, and Manu's low scoring output is deceptive, as he was doing exactly what he wanted to, getting in the paint repeatedly to breakdown our defense and set up teammates all night long. But one thing that has been consistent about Ben since his first summer league is that its all about confidence with him, and he is streaky and prone to explosive bursts once he starts feeling it. After half it was a couple of athletic finishes that got him going. One along the left baseline on the semi-break, and then after a nice steal up top a race out to a gliding finish at the rim. He still hadn't hit a jumper at that point, but the change in his demeanor resulting from just finally making some positive plays made all the difference. He drained his next long jumper, we rode the hot hand and called the play for him out of a timeout at the 3:30 mark of the quarter, and he smoothly pulled up around a screen to drain it, and then he added a second three in classic streak shooter fashion. And his burst had an impact on the scoreboard where the Spurs had pushed the lead out to 13 and we appeared to be teetering on the edge of being knocked out. Ben's burst pushed it back down into the 8pt area, and while we never really made a run at them, it kept the dream alive for another quarter. Defensively he played some good defense smothering Kawhi (still not seeing the superstar there despite the exaggerated claims, sorry), but was still having problems keeping Manu out of the paint. And then, poof. The streak was over. Not sure whether being crossed over by Manu did it, whether stepping out of bounds on his first play of the 4th was an indicator the streak was over, whether getting some rest broke the rhythm, or whatever. In the end he contributed one more play, hitting an open corner three on another Gay drive and kick (Rudy was the drive and kick PG we otherwise didn't have on the night) that again kept us lingering, but it was just an isolated play. The fireworks were relegated to a single quarter. So...what do you do with that? --Brick

Stats: 35min 15pts (5-12, 2-3, 3-4) 3reb 2ast 0stl 1blk 3TO
Collison ( C- ) -- well he was back...kinda. Tony Parker seemed to come out wanting to prove a point for some reason and just pretty much kicked Darren's butt in the early going. It was a struggle from the get go, and a struggle on defense that we could hardly afford, as Parker not only was beating him on drives around screens, but even felt confident he could post Collison up and overpower him inside. And the other direction we weren't getting so much of the steady hand of Collison as we were a frustrated Sessions-lite. The Spurs were keeping him out of the paint and he was forcing sometimes flat dumb stuff on the break, picking up blocks against him and turnovers. Finally got one of his little pullups to go, but even that led to another one forced up in traffic and missed as maybe he was feeling too much pressure to be that other gun with Boogie out. When he returned he was a little more settled, finally got the ball inside a little, and played some nice defense blocking a Parker shot inside, although the Spurs got it back, and scored on the paly anyway when Collison got screened by Duncan and Parker AGAIN blew into the paint. Watching those two play reminds me of the two old guys at the park who aren't the best or the quickest anymore, but who just have played with each other so long they whip the young whippersnappers just by knowing everything the other guy wants to do instinctively. As it was with Ben, the third may have been Collison's best quarter as he started heating up and hitting his little jumpers, and also finally began to get into Parker on defense for entire possessions. But he never was able to consistently create on offense, as Rudy was really our main creative force on the night, and in the 4th he began to struggle again against Parker. A series of bad possessions including back to back wild layup attempts by Gay and Collison did us in down the stretch as we had cut the lead to 8 again but could never get closer. Added a three in the final two minute with the game pretty much over. And kind of finished our last gasp when he got fouled on the break with 52 seconds to go, but again only split the FTs (have noticed a disturbing tendency to miss some in the crunchtime) to leave us 7pts/3 possession back rather than two. When the Spur went down the other way and again hit a three, that was that. --Brick
 
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Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#2
Bench

Stats: 13min 8pts (2-4, 0-0, 4-4) 2reb 2ast 0stl 0blk 2TO
Casspi ( B+ ) -- Omri started with his typical high energy moving great without the ball. Casspi is one of the better perimeter defenders in SAC, but he as Gay suffered the whole evening from the security provided by DMC defending the paint. Both Casspi and Gay tried to provide some backup to the defenders inside making it difficult to keep Leonard, Green and Ginobili from getting good looks from outside. When BenMc missed a difficult shot at the clock, Casspi, who normally returns fast to the defense, let Leonard make a home run in the fast brake. Like Gay earlier found Hollins, Casspi initiated good communication with DWill. What a pity that the Alley-oop pass to DWill was too high. That would have lifted the Kings attitude considerably. After committing a stray foul, Casspi hustled the following loose ball to the Kings and in the end scored on a nice drive. The second quarter started with a rebound coast to coast and a pass to DWill for a three. Very nice! A couple of cuts where he was able to pull a James Harden (one with two from the line) and one without. Coming back in the end of 3rd, started the 4th by keeping up with Green making him miss the layup. Good hustle on the rebound against Greene. Now Greene in trouble keeping Casspi and Omri capitalizes on FTs. Then a bad run right into the wall (Leonard), but correcting it by a really beautiful move followed by a reverse dunk. What a pity for loosing Leonard just before leaving the court. Very nice 14 min from Omri. --Kingston

Stats: 17min 9pts (3-6, 1-2, 2-2) 4reb 0ast 0stl 0blk 0TO
Williams ( B- ) -- in for the new Boogie at the 4min mark as the Spurs brought in Bonner, and performed adequately. Was aggressive, although at times kind of brainlessly so. Got a nice little drive with 2min to go in the quarter, and drew a foul on another aggressive drive. Of course also forgot his primary assignment and drifted off Bonner and he draind a three on us. Remained aggressive into the second as he hit a corner three to start the quarter on a nice Casspi drive and dish, and drew a foul and got to the line. His second stint was more full of athletic tomfoolery as he repeatedly forced wild drives (one of which he hit in the late 3rd), missed a three fading to his left, and struggled to avoid getting bounced around by the Round Mound of Diaw. Did come up with a big offensive rebound using that athelticism though. Just wish he consistently wanted it that bad on the glass. --Brick

Stats: 13min 4pts (2-6, 0-1, 0-0) 0reb 4ast 2stl 0blk 0TO
Sessions ( C+ ) -- this was...better. In in the final 3min of the first quarter and got a side jumper to
fall from Landry. Defensively had no chance against Parker's aggression, Had several Sessions specials, leaping in the air before passing and throwing it for a backcourt violation, hesitating on a three for good reason as when he took it he airballed it. But for all that the ballhandling looked less chicken with its head cut off, and he actually ended up notching more assists than Collison in less than half the time. Returned to force a terrible drive into traffic in the late 3rd. And tried to draw a foul charging into Baynes in the early 4th. Did however give a better effort defensively against Parker in the 4th, and raced out on a the break and challenged Parker and scored on the goaltending call. Missed a tough layup in the break that would have made it 6, but finished his night with a nice pass to a cutting Omri. Still adventuresome, but comparatively ok.--Brick

Stats: 23min 12pts (4-10, 0-0, 4-4) 10reb 2ast 0stl 0blk 1TO
Landry ( B- ) -- Carl had a decent game last night. He was more effective in the second half, and offensively, he played fairly well. For the most part he just took what was there, which is more than I can say for some of his teammates. I think that if Sessions ends up in hell, his punishment should be, watching himself drive to the basket out of control, and turning the ball over. Because watching him is like being in hell. But back to Landry. Carl ended up with 12 points, 10 boards, and 2 assists in 23 minutes of play. That's about all you can expect, and maybe it's more than we would normally expect from Landry. My point is, Landry is one of only a few players that stepped up and played well. There were a few that tried, but failed. To show how the night went, and the selfishness that was exhibited, landry was on the floor for 8 minutes before being fed the ball under the basket for a layup. He was ignored for 8 freaking minutes, and this was the same time period that Stauskas only touched the ball once in 7 minutes. Ironically, the one touch Stauskas had, ended up being an assist to Landry. That means the ball was dominated by the other three players on the floor during that period of time. To digress further, in the second half, McLemore was probably the hottest player on the floor. Was he being fed by his teammates? NO!!!! That's how you lose games. In the second half, Landry was the only low post player that was effective, and yet for the most part, he was an afterthought. Defensively, at times Carl got stuck guarding someone three to four inches taller than him, and the result was appropriate. There were a couple of times when he got lost in traffic, and his man ended up with an easy bucket. But no team is better at smoke and mirrors and misdirection than the Spurs. All in all, solid game by Landry, especially when compared to some of his teammates. --Baja

Stats: 7min 0pts (0-0, 0-0, 0-0) 1reb 1ast 0stl 0blk 0TO
Stauskas ( INC ) -- in for Ben near the end of the first, and would play the first half of the 2nd quarter, although you would never know it. Never even got a shot to pass up and his most memorable contribution was a single good board in traffic. Defensively he looked a little befuddled a couple of times, but there were no major misadventures. --Brick
 
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kingsboi

Hall of Famer
#3
Can't complain...they competed and that's all you can ask for. We still need to work on team defense or just go and get a defensive player or two since we are trying to turn offensive minded players into capable defenders. Looking forward to this home stand.
 

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
#4
Either we would win in six, or it would be a loss. We're not yet good enough to win Game 7 in San Antonio, nor are we good enough to beat the Spurs in five or less.
 
#5
SA got wide open shot after wide open shot. Part of that was bad defense but it was also their composure and passing. They're just too darn good for you to beat without playing a near perfect game. Would have been nice if our big 3 could have played together instead of staggering their availability. Collison's rhythm looked a little bit off
 
#7
The only thing upsetting about this loss is how well Ryan Hollins played. We've had this backup C this whole time and he's gotten no minutes? There's no need to have Landry out at C at any point in time with Hollins around.

Besides that, this was a loss the second Boogie wasn't set to go. Collison was rusty so Parker naturally ran in circles around him. Rudy played one of his best games of the year, a really efficient 23 points with 8 assists during a time we needed his playmaking in the worst way. Ben exploded in the third quarter but was invisible the rest of the game, he needs to find a way to stay aggressive and involved in the offense because the team hits a higher plateau when Ben is online.

We mostly missed Cousins defensively, I think. Boogie guards the pick and roll better than any player on our team and we got eviscerated there tonight. Parker and Ginobili had 16 assists combined.
 

Tetsujin

The Game Thread Dude
#8
I really question the strategy of ignoring a wide open Ben in the corner to instead throw a crappy pass inside to Carl Landry or to have our point guards clank the ball off the rim for the majority of the game.

Ben's still not able to create for himself (though that aspect of his game appears to be slowly improving) but he's still shown himself capable of hitting more open three pointers than he'll miss.
 
#11
Tony Parker running around in circles until he gets open is one of the most annoying things I have ever seen! We did not disrupt them enough. While we did compete, the spurs pretty much had they're way with us (without Cousins).

Ben is starting to blow my mind with the potential he has. We need to sign him to a 10 year contract!
 
K

KingMilz

Guest
#12
The only thing upsetting about this loss is how well Ryan Hollins played. We've had this backup C this whole time and he's gotten no minutes? There's no need to have Landry out at C at any point in time with Hollins around.

Besides that, this was a loss the second Boogie wasn't set to go. Collison was rusty so Parker naturally ran in circles around him. Rudy played one of his best games of the year, a really efficient 23 points with 8 assists during a time we needed his playmaking in the worst way. Ben exploded in the third quarter but was invisible the rest of the game, he needs to find a way to stay aggressive and involved in the offense because the team hits a higher plateau when Ben is online.

We mostly missed Cousins defensively, I think. Boogie guards the pick and roll better than any player on our team and we got eviscerated there tonight. Parker and Ginobili had 16 assists combined.
Yeah Cousins not only plays solid D but he wears the other team out on the other end which mean's they don't have as much to give on offense as well.

I was really happy with the way Ben fought back and the chemistry him and Rudy (played really well) had going, was really disappointed with Landry and Sessions (well can't really be disappointed anymore you expect it now). I'm just really confused with how the minutes are being handed out. Hollins was terrific and for some reason didn't play in the 4th and Casspi should have got way more playing time, Landry is getting to much playing time at the expense of players out performing him at both ends.

Malone has to reward players that are playing well and discipline/bench those that are not while offering zero on defense like Sessions and Landry. I think we should experiment having Hollins first big off the bench to play with Cousins his ability to dive to the rim and finish will open up the floor for 3 point shooters and will result in Cousins with his passing getting him for easy dunks. Not to mention he can offer rim protection and he altered like 4-5 shots which in a tight game is HUGE. He can be our Brandon Wright (not as good I kn0w) sort of player.

I would also like to see Casspi playing the 4 with Gay at the 3 when there's a stretch 4 like Bonnar or Ryan Anderson on the floor.
 
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#13
We played about as well as could be expected, we hung in there and that would be good enough to beat probably about 60% of the league, but the Spurs were just on their game tonight, take the loss, go home and hope for a healthy squad in this coming month.
 
#14
I was pretty sure the Spurs were going to flip the switch and make sure that we didn't beat them again tonight, and that's what happened. ESPN won't ever feature the Spurs, because that doesn't get them enough clicks, but the way they play is pretty close to perfect. Reminds me of the Webber/Vlade/Peja days.

Having said that, Ben McLemore...as Jerry and Grant said, the dude is growing up right in front of us. That running jump shot from the top of the key off the dribble was a thing of beauty, and made me literally say "wow." Might have been a lucky shot, but that was about as sweet as it gets. He also had a couple of drives to the hoop that looked completely effortless. His athletic ability is head and shoulders above everyone else on the floor.

I was wondering if a few guys (like DMC) told him to just not worry and take every shot he liked. It seemed like he wasn't worried about anyone or anything else tonight. More!
 

Glenn

Hall of Famer
#15
Ben is making shots that are far more difficult than your typical shot. Last yar h couldn't hit anything, maybe being an inch or two off, but this year he seems to have conquered his demons. On defense he can be very pesky and THAT surprises me. His name appears too often in trade fantasies and I think that will soon stop. He's getting better and he is on cheap contract.

As to Hollins' lack of minutes, I'm inclined to trust the coach. I suspect Malone thinks that having a boosted up defense makes just as much sense as putting offense into the game. I think JT has proven his defensive abilities and Hollins has not.

As bad as people think Malone was, we came pretty close considering multiple factors including that we were missing Cuz.
 
#16
This game was lost, because the Spurs had a great shooting night and they didn't shy away from shooting. The quartet Leonard-Green-Ginobili-Bonner made 10 of their combined 14 3PT attempts. That is extremely difficult to prevent as those guys are tall too. Amazingly the Kings shot with a better clip, but unfortunately made fewer attempts. I'm with those suggesting feed for BenMc. Often, and especially in this game, he could have been the difference maker.

Let's look at the positive sides. Even without DMC, the Kings easily out-rebounded the Spurs. I'm an old school person. I believe that rebounding is there in every game while 3PT shooting is a roller coaster. The Kings have work to do. It's a young team and it shows in the TOs. They will disappear towards the playoffs. West is a deadly conference, but I'm still confident that the Kings will make it to the playoffs.

Pay attention that the bench is playing better. Hollins was a pleasant surprise tonight, but he will not be a big minutes player. He has a tendency to foul frequently, which he succeeded to pretty much avoid tonight. DWill and Sessions improved. Collison needs to get his passing game back in order. I see constant improvement in this team. BenMc is going to be great. Casspi is becoming confident. The guy that I miss, and I'm sure will catch up by the playoffs, is Nik Stauskas. He is starting to move better and see the court better, Only needs to balance his shot.
 
#17
We have to get the win against the Memphis Grizzlies so we won't be drawn into losing all the time, Houston and San Antonio are very hard to beat in their hometowns but our next game will be held at home against the Memphis Grizzlies, if Cousins will be probable along with Collison and Gay I see no actual reason to lose.

Gay returned in a very decent shape and was scoring very good and was efficient, same with Darren Collison, they both brought impact to the game.

Ben was shooting in very decent percentages, 6/9, I was pretty impressed.

I was very surprised by Ryan Hollins, efficient throughout the ball game, 15 points in very good percentages for a big man, he is obviously not DeMarcus Cousins but he was doing very well tonight, I only reckon that he should've grabbed more rebounds.

Casspi played only 13 minutes and was good, I personally believed that he should have played more minutes tonight, I hope he will in the game against the Grizzlies.
 
#18
4-2 spurs. We take 2 just off raw energy. We give 2 away on turnovers alone even though they're winnable. Spurs just plain outsmart us for the other 2.

Where's Hollins been all season coach? Looked like a back up center to me out there tonight.

Sessions, why?
Why? 4 assists, no turnovers, 2 steals. Probably his best game of the season. Shooting still off, missed a layup or two, but, more assist and steals than 35 mins of DC. Defense will never be good, but certainly we knew that when he was signed. I know everybody slammed the door shut on Ramon already, but he had a nice limited minute game. He really did. Not great, not an A game, but a B/B-? That's progress.

Ben showed a flash in an early summer league game where he can get hot and be unstoppable. I think I declared he'll drop 50 on someone at some point in his career, which felt like an utterly stupid prediction for a LONG while. He had that going in the third, then everyone forgot about him. That was a bug mistake and cost us a shot at a pretty impossible comeback.

Spurs are just better. Than everyone. And when they are hitting 3's like that with unreal ball movement, and no boogie, just tip your hat and move on to the next one.
 
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#19
This game was lost, because the Spurs had a great shooting night and they didn't shy away from shooting. The quartet Leonard-Green-Ginobili-Bonner made 10 of their combined 14 3PT attempts. That is extremely difficult to prevent as those guys are tall too. Amazingly the Kings shot with a better clip, but unfortunately made fewer attempts. I'm with those suggesting feed for BenMc. Often, and especially in this game, he could have been the difference maker.

Let's look at the positive sides. Even without DMC, the Kings easily out-rebounded the Spurs. I'm an old school person. I believe that rebounding is there in every game while 3PT shooting is a roller coaster. The Kings have work to do. It's a young team and it shows in the TOs. They will disappear towards the playoffs. West is a deadly conference, but I'm still confident that the Kings will make it to the playoffs.

Pay attention that the bench is playing better. Hollins was a pleasant surprise tonight, but he will not be a big minutes player. He has a tendency to foul frequently, which he succeeded to pretty much avoid tonight. DWill and Sessions improved. Collison needs to get his passing game back in order. I see constant improvement in this team. BenMc is going to be great. Casspi is becoming confident. The guy that I miss, and I'm sure will catch up by the playoffs, is Nik Stauskas. He is starting to move better and see the court better, Only needs to balance his shot.
The spurs got a lot of wide open easy looks. The Kings shot well also. But they took generally more difficult shots. I think you have to disrupt Parker first. Run some picks on him or something, Knock him to the floor a couple of times, he might stop running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Then you have to cover everyone else but I think it all starts with Parker.
 
#20
The biggest difference in the Spurs offense and our offense is that they run effective screens and we don't. We haven't been able to run effective screens in 5 years. Doesn't matter who our PG's are, they don't run tight against the screen to actually use the screen for what it's there for. Screening. We never get mismatches on switches or wide open drives to the lane because we still cannot use screens effectively. The Spurs screened us to death in this game and it's what leads to easy wide open shots for them and difficult closely contested shots for us. Just think how good this team would be if they actually learned how to use a screen correctly?