Sacramento Kings: “Don’t Run, Sprint”

Sacramento Kings’ guard Isaiah Thomas had a tough night against the Charlotte frontcourt.

In a game where the Sacramento Kings gave up under 100 points but still seemed to get run ragged, coach Mike Malone’s quote in the title on transition defense summed up many of the teams problems. In their 95-87 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats, the Kings simply ran, instead of sprinting back on defense too many times and the Bobcats were able to score a multitude of points in transition and semi-transition, as Kings defenders failed to set up in proper position to stop rim runs by Gerald Henderson and Kemba Walker. It was a pathetic effort by the Kings against a team that struggles to put the ball in the bucket, as it seemed like the entire team slept walked through the first half of the game. For the Bobcats to score 35 points in a quarter is inexcusable, they shoot 41% for Christ sakes. This team can’t hit the broad side of a barn sometimes, but the Kings just showed that coach Malone has a lot more work to do, beyond simple schemes, to get this team to change the current defensive state.

The Kings did get another standout performance from the big man DeMarcus Cousins, as he continued his great December where he is averaging 24 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists per game. However, what has been swept under the rug of late are the turnovers Boogie is committing on a nightly basis. His 4 assists per game are great for a big (his 20.1 assist percentage, possessions that end with a DeMarcus assist, is slightly better than noted big man passer Marc Gasol’s percentage last year), but when you back that with 5 turnovers per game, the value diminishes. Last night was no different, as Boogie dropped 6 dimes, including back to back beauties out of the post to Isaiah Thomas and Quincy Acy, but had 6 turnovers as well. Some of these turnovers invariably come from “big fellas stupidly bringing the ball up the court thinking he can lead the fastbreak”, but a decent amount come from doubles in the post where he is still learning how to play. Last night, for instance, he got trapped just outside the short corner, eventually trying a crazy cross court pass that was easily intercepted. The bad part about the play was he had been getting double on his previous couple touches and should have known this was coming. Granted, this double came on the pass as opposed to after the first dribble, but he still had an easy pass right back out to IT that would have forced the Bobcats to reset their defense. As the season continues, how DeMarcus attacks doubles will be key to the Kings success on offense.

With that said, I’m not overly worried about Boogie learning how to attack these doubles because he has shown so much more maturity in his game this year. Once again, he owned the paint, causing destruction to one of the best defensive teams in the league. He was able to drop 30 points on only 13 shots because he has stopped settling for midrange jumpers, (I think he only took one all game) while continually seeking position in the paint that forced the Bobcats to foul him incessantly. He also showed great patience in the post, using up-fakes and pivots to get the Bobcats’ defenders off balance and give him easy opportunities when he he didn’t get fouled. Combine all of this offensive production with his rebounding (17) and improving activity on defense (3 steals), and the Boogieman is making a push to be in talk for a Western Conference All-Star spot. (Personally, I don’t think he gets it because he in on a bad team, but something should be said for him increasing his usage rate to league high, while also improving all of his efficiency stats.) The little thing are important this season and Boogie is showing that he has focused on the little things to help his game transform.

Notes

I’ll say it again, transition and semi-transition defense was downright awful. Time after time the Bobcats were able to push the tempo to get layups and threes. The Kings were running, not sprinting.
Gerald Henderson destroyed Ben McLemore and Travis Outlaw in the first quarter, helping the Bobcats get out to their early lead. Neither Kings defender did much of anything to stop Henderson from getting whatever shot he wanted early in the game. Poor showing by two guys going through a rough stretch. ( For Outlaw, that stretch spans his entire career.)
IT finally played a bad game, and, from what I can recall, the first bad performance I have personally watched this year. He just didn’t seem quite right on his shot, as his array of scoops and floaters weren’t falling like they normally do. Combine this with him allowing Kemba Walker to break him down to often and I would grade this as a clear minus. Let’s hope he bounces back tonight.
Ben is not looking good right now. He is clearly not ready for the responsibility he has to take on this team, but his effort hasn’t waned one bit and that definitely accounts for something. People have been pointing out on Twitter that Bradley Beal was horrible shooting to start his career last year, so I am not freaking out because this will take time. And I always thought Ben needed time, regardless of what team he went, to develop into what he will be as a NBA player.
Outlaw was the first off the bench, coming in as the backup 2. He still sucks but that’s how far Marcus Thornton has fallen. Shooting guard is now rivaling small forward as a Kings eyesore position.
I really liked what I saw from Quincy Acy. When the Kings traded Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, they lost the energy guy off the bench, someone who will do anything that is needed on the court and they need Acy to assume this role with production. He had a great play last night where he dove on the ground and secured a steal, before getting it to Boogie from the ground, starting a fastbreak. Great stuff.