And now a brief disruption to our regular, but very infrequent coverage of the Sacramento Kings.
I just launched a movies site to track upcoming movies. It's called MoviesWithButter.com. It's kinda like Digg/Reddit for movies, except it's not just top 10 lists and link-bait articles.
Check it out:
http://www.movieswithbutter.com
Friday, July 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Cisco in the Starting Lineup - Yeah, Why Not?
Sacramento Bee sports writer Ailene Voisin suggested that Paul Westphal might change the starting line-up again, and she's thinking it be Francisco Garcia for Omri Casspi. I agree with her, although I said it a couple weeks ago.
Omri Casspi is a talented player, but his defense needs work. He's 6'9", but he's not strong enough to defend power forwards and too slow to defend small forwards. Francisco Garcia has always been a decent defender. You also don't lose much in offense. With him in the starting line-up, there'll be better ballhandling too.
Sure, it's a small line-up, but Omri Casspi's not really using his size to his advantage. Fancisco Garcia and Tyreke Evans are both big enough to defend other small forwards.
I think Tyreke should let Beno or Garcia push the tempo more. Tyreke tends to walk the ball up the court which allows other teams to set up their defense. The Kings, as of now, don't have a good enough post player to play half-court offense. Not until DeMarcus Cousins get more games under his belt.
Omri Casspi is a talented player, but his defense needs work. He's 6'9", but he's not strong enough to defend power forwards and too slow to defend small forwards. Francisco Garcia has always been a decent defender. You also don't lose much in offense. With him in the starting line-up, there'll be better ballhandling too.
Sure, it's a small line-up, but Omri Casspi's not really using his size to his advantage. Fancisco Garcia and Tyreke Evans are both big enough to defend other small forwards.
I think Tyreke should let Beno or Garcia push the tempo more. Tyreke tends to walk the ball up the court which allows other teams to set up their defense. The Kings, as of now, don't have a good enough post player to play half-court offense. Not until DeMarcus Cousins get more games under his belt.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Make That Fifth in a Row - And a New Title for This Blog
Kings lost another one at home. It's a close one, but we were down for most of the game. I'm surprised that Paul Westphal justified this loss by saying that the Detroit Pistons is a playoff team in the East. I don't know. He may be right, but they have pretty much the same group of guys as they did last year. They didn't make the playoffs last season.
Sure, you can blame the 3-ball. We were 2 for 18. Still, we actually have some post players now. Why aren't we going inside out? Why aren't we going down low to DeMarcus Cousins or Carl Landry more often down low instead of relying on our jump shots.
At least Carl Landry had a decent game again.
DeMarcus Cousins continue to rack up fouls and make careless turnovers. Sure, he's a rookie, but he needs grab the rebound and find his point guard.
At this point, I'm starting to think it's the coach's fault. He has decent players, but I don't feel like he's making the best use of them.
Sure, you can blame the 3-ball. We were 2 for 18. Still, we actually have some post players now. Why aren't we going inside out? Why aren't we going down low to DeMarcus Cousins or Carl Landry more often down low instead of relying on our jump shots.
At least Carl Landry had a decent game again.
DeMarcus Cousins continue to rack up fouls and make careless turnovers. Sure, he's a rookie, but he needs grab the rebound and find his point guard.
At this point, I'm starting to think it's the coach's fault. He has decent players, but I don't feel like he's making the best use of them.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Fourth in a Row After Phoenix Loss
I wasn't expecting a win. For the third game since starting Samuel Dalembert, the offense has been lowered. Defensely, it's definitely better. At least we're not getting abused in the paint anymore. Those are frustrating - when you allow layups and dunks.
I still like Dalembert as a starter. We can start from here. I think the team is still adjusting to him. You still a bunch of unforced turnovers. Frustrating, but I assume that these will be fewer after more games. DeMarcus Cousins has been pretty careless with the ball lately. He'll accidentally kick the ball or tab the ball out of bounds when there's no opposing players around. That's just focus and probably tired legs. And again he fouled out. A couple of them are just unnecessary reach-ins. Plus, he's gotta move his legs.
The Kings did came within two early in the fourth quarter, but then Steve Nash entered the game and put it away. The Kings just didn't have an answer for him.
Better defense, worst offense. I'll take this. Start with better defense, then tinker to improve the offense.
I'm beginning to wonder if the Kings should start DeMarcus Cousins and Samuel Dalembert. This will give the team defense and offense in the paint. Cousins can post up and draw double teams. Dalembert can defend the paint. This line-up might be slow, but it'll be a big line-up.
I still like Dalembert as a starter. We can start from here. I think the team is still adjusting to him. You still a bunch of unforced turnovers. Frustrating, but I assume that these will be fewer after more games. DeMarcus Cousins has been pretty careless with the ball lately. He'll accidentally kick the ball or tab the ball out of bounds when there's no opposing players around. That's just focus and probably tired legs. And again he fouled out. A couple of them are just unnecessary reach-ins. Plus, he's gotta move his legs.
The Kings did came within two early in the fourth quarter, but then Steve Nash entered the game and put it away. The Kings just didn't have an answer for him.
Better defense, worst offense. I'll take this. Start with better defense, then tinker to improve the offense.
I'm beginning to wonder if the Kings should start DeMarcus Cousins and Samuel Dalembert. This will give the team defense and offense in the paint. Cousins can post up and draw double teams. Dalembert can defend the paint. This line-up might be slow, but it'll be a big line-up.
Friday, November 12, 2010
It's Almost Time for Phoenix Suns
If we can't beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in Sacramento on their second game of a back-to-back, how can we beat the Phoenix Suns on the road? We can't - even without Amare.
So why are am I still watching it? For the small chance that we can. Let's see what Paul Westphal can do. I'm beginning to think it's more of a coaching problem now than it's a personnel problem. If the season continues to be up and down like last season, then it's most definitely a coaching issue.
Paul Westphal needs to stick with a starting line-up. There's a reason why coaches stick with one line-up, and make changes during the game. Constantly telling his players that it depends on the match-ups or their performance from game-to-game will only lead to instability.
The Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings currently have the same records. Let's see who goes down tonight. Even though I'm expecting a loss, I hope we'll be moving up.
So why are am I still watching it? For the small chance that we can. Let's see what Paul Westphal can do. I'm beginning to think it's more of a coaching problem now than it's a personnel problem. If the season continues to be up and down like last season, then it's most definitely a coaching issue.
Paul Westphal needs to stick with a starting line-up. There's a reason why coaches stick with one line-up, and make changes during the game. Constantly telling his players that it depends on the match-ups or their performance from game-to-game will only lead to instability.
The Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings currently have the same records. Let's see who goes down tonight. Even though I'm expecting a loss, I hope we'll be moving up.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
It's Gonna Be a Really Long Season
It's official, these Kings have a lot to work on. You can't be heading in the right direction when you lose to the Minnesota Timberwolves at home in their second game of a back-to-back. We just have no answer for Michael Beasley. Sure, we were in it until Tyreke Evans fouled out late in the third quarter.
That's three games in row we lost. Los Angeles Lakers. They're the champs. Memphis Grizzlies. They're a decent team. Minnesota Timberwolves? There's no excuse.
On the positive side, having Samuel Dalembert at center does improve our defense a lot. We actually held a team below 100 points for the first time.
Still, it's gonna be a lot like last season. Up and down, mostly down. Oh well. And I thought we improved.
That's three games in row we lost. Los Angeles Lakers. They're the champs. Memphis Grizzlies. They're a decent team. Minnesota Timberwolves? There's no excuse.
On the positive side, having Samuel Dalembert at center does improve our defense a lot. We actually held a team below 100 points for the first time.
Still, it's gonna be a lot like last season. Up and down, mostly down. Oh well. And I thought we improved.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Miami Heat vs. Utah Jazz Game was Crazy!
It's gut-wrenching loss for Miami Heat fans, but haters probably loved it. I only saw the last 5 minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime. At the time, the score was tied (or maybe Utah was down by 1) and Ronnie Price had just committed a fragrant foul on James Jones. After a couple minutes Miami was ahead by 8 with about 30 seconds to go. It looked like they got this one, but then Paul Milsap hit 3 three-pointers and a layup in between foul shots by Miami to send the game into overtime. Crazy game.
Overtime was just as thrilling. Dwyane Wade made a three-pointer to tie the game with 4 or 5 seconds left. Francisco Elson was fouled with 0.4 seconds left and made two free throws to give Utah a two point advantage. Miami missed the final shot and loss the game.
In previous seasons when Carlos Boozer was injured, Paul Milsap was the one taking over his scoring and rebounding load. Now that Boozer is gone, it's time for him to shine. And he did against Miami - 46 points and 9 rebounds.
This is just one of those games for Miami. They didn't get beaten badly. It was a game that got away. Overall, through eight games so far, they still played pretty well. Their glaring weakness is interior defense. Chris Bosh isn't known for that.
Overtime was just as thrilling. Dwyane Wade made a three-pointer to tie the game with 4 or 5 seconds left. Francisco Elson was fouled with 0.4 seconds left and made two free throws to give Utah a two point advantage. Miami missed the final shot and loss the game.
In previous seasons when Carlos Boozer was injured, Paul Milsap was the one taking over his scoring and rebounding load. Now that Boozer is gone, it's time for him to shine. And he did against Miami - 46 points and 9 rebounds.
This is just one of those games for Miami. They didn't get beaten badly. It was a game that got away. Overall, through eight games so far, they still played pretty well. Their glaring weakness is interior defense. Chris Bosh isn't known for that.
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