Forum Blue And Gold

A Lakers Blog. Thoughts, reflections, and the odd rant on the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA (even the Clippers).

Preview & Chat: The Sacramento Kings

by


Los Angeles Lakers vs Sacramento Kings

Mon Apr 13, 10:00 PM EST – TWSN, CSNS

Line: SAC -3.5, O/U: 207.5

Sleep Train Arena – Sacramento, CA

Recent Matchups

Ranks

  • 103.6 ORTG (24)
  • 110.5 DRTG (29)
  • 93.9 Pace (13)
  • 76.1 DRB% (8)
  • 0.514 TS% (26)

Latest Results

Leaders

  • Kobe Bryant 22.3 ppg
  • Jordan Hill 8 rpg
  • Kobe Bryant 5.6 apg
  • Ed Davis 1.2 bpg
  • Ronnie Price 1.6 spg

Ranks

  • 105.1 ORTG (17)
  • 109.5 DRTG (27)
  • 95.3 Pace (8)
  • 75.4 DRB% (11)
  • 0.54 TS% (10)

Latest Results

Leaders

  • DeMarcus Cousins 24.1 ppg
  • DeMarcus Cousins 12.7 rpg
  • Darren Collison 5.6 apg
  • DeMarcus Cousins 1.7 bpg
  • Darren Collison 1.5 spg

Two games. Eight quarters. 96 minutes. That’s all that remains of the Lakers’ season.

It’s funny because it seems I have been waiting for the end of this season for so long, but now that it really is almost here it feels strange and I’m not quite sure how to react. While I have not “enjoyed” watching the games — no one really likes watching their favorite team lose — I do still tune into to every game (or at least 90% of them) to watch this team. I still want to evaluate what they do well, what they don’t, who’s playing well, who’s not, and scope the little nuances that make the game the game.

I am a basketball junky. I like seeing how Clarkson attack’s on a certain angle or strings his dribble out. I enjoy commenting that Kelly needs to use his height more on defense rather than reaching in all the time. I like seeing Jabari Brown’s composed competitiveness. I even like seeing Carlos Boozer celebrate his teammate’s good plays on the bench like the true professional he’s been all season. These things don’t come with wins, but they come with watching the team I root for. On Wednesday, the season will end and this will be no more. Sure, I’ll still watch the playoffs and enjoy seeing the game elevated in the 2nd season. But, in a way, I’ll miss the Lakers even if I won’t quite miss these Lakers if that makes sense.

When watching tonight, I’m sure it certainly will make sense. In Sunday’s loss to the Mavs, the Lakers lost Wes Johnson to a sprained ankle and Dwight Buycks to a fractured hand. Tonight, then, they’ll be down to an even more skeleton roster that has them without a natural SF and without a true backup PG. They did add Vander “Forum” Blue for the rest of the season from the D-Fenders, but he’s more of a scoring guard who can also create shots for others than a bigger wing or a pure distributor. Still, though, the Lakers can use the depth on the perimeter since they were down to only Jordan Clarkson and Jabari Brown to man the two guard slots.

I’m sure the Kings will not feel sorry for the Lakers, though. They are down DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay, and Darren Collison and are also running patchwork lineups due to their reduced depth. Since George Karl took over the Kings aren’t much better than they were under Ty Corbin, but they are playing at a much faster pace and Karl is getting more from some of the role players (rookie Nick Stauskus is a prime example). Their defense is not where it was under dispatched Mike Malone, but that’s to be expected. Overall, though, it seems Karl will need a full off-season and training camp to implement what he wants on both ends and go from there.

In any event, this game will test your viewing endurance though, if history tells us anything it’s that these franchises tend to compete hard when matched up. Maybe that extra effort can make up for some of the injured players and offer an intensity that covers up some of the flaws of the individual players. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking.

Where you can watch: 7:00pm start time on TWC Sportsnet. Also listen at ESPN Radio 710AM Los Angeles.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. LKK says

    Great point about Boozer. As fans, it’s been a tough season, but I can only imagine how difficult all this losing is for the players. Combined with the lottery pick/tanking dynamic, the players have been betwixt and between all year. Time to look ahead and hope for the best.

  6. Todd says

    Robert – Thanks for the comment in the last thread. Hopefully, the Lakers turn the corner this off season. You and I will be on hand to hold the FO’s proverbial ‘feet’ to the fire.

  7. lil pau says

    Just showed up at a bar and requested they put on the game. People looked at me like I am insane.

  8. Ko says

    Pau

    Should have told them it’s the D League all-star game. Jimmy must be so proud of what he created.

  11. Lil Pau says

    I hate you, R Kelly. I survived Kwame Smush, Javaris and Travis, but it is you I despise.

  14. Kimberly says

    Did anyone catch backstage lakers last episode? There was a scene with sacre and vitti having dinner- sacre mentioned how this years chemistry on the team was the best he’s experienced… A shame we need to revamp roster.

  15. BigCitySid says

    Darius, just curious. Next week what will be the primary direction of FB&G?

    – Lakers off season draft, free agent, & trade speculations?

    – NBA post season?

  16. Renato Afonso says

    Nice question Sid. This is a Lakers blog but I wouldn’t mind discussing the playoffs since we will have pleeeeenty of time to discuss everything in the offseason (and we know nothing will happen until the draft lottery anyway).

  17. teamn says

    Wow, been a long year. I can only imagine how hard it has been for Darius reading what amounts to the same arguments for at least a year now (and that’s being generous). And of course, no way to see any of these arguments “win” for at least a few years.

    Darius — thanks for the site and your patience.

    Fellow fans — here’s to better days ahead!

  18. J C says

    Haha Lil Pau
    “R Kelly, it is you I despise.”
    That’s funny.

    Anyone ever see the film Being There with Peter Sellers?
    A gardner lucks into prominence by saying just enough vague stuff that sounds profound for everyone to think he’s a genius.
    My son and I used to joke that that was really Phil’s story.

    Now I think Byron kind of represents the opposite end of that Being There spectrum.
    He’s just kind of there, trying to say profound stuff but none of it is. He’s just kind of pathetic. I think he’s lucky to have a job at all.

    Oh and yes – thanks Darius, great site.
    We’ll get Em next year!

  19. Kevin says

    Not to start that debate again, but with so many folks suggesting that the Lakers pursue Greg Monroe this off-season, is there any concern that his acquisition will push Randle out of his projected PF role? Or, is there word that Randle is dropping weight to cause less stress on his legs and will be quick enough to guard SFs next year?

  20. Todd says

    Kevin – I have been one of the biggest proponents of signing Monroe. Part of that is we have no real center and Monroe can play the Five as he did in college and his first two years in the NBA. The other reason is although the Four looks to be a position of strength now for the Lakers it may not be the case next season. Hill has a team option for $9 Million which might be a tad high for his production. Ed Davis has a player option and will likely elect to test the market. Tarik Black is only under contract this year and becomes a free agent in July. So its possible that all three will be gone.

    Monroe is 4 years younger than Hill and has a more productive history – especially when you factor in that Hill has never really played more than part time minutes his entire career. Davis is a nice rebounder but he doesn’t really have an offensive game. I would like to keep Black as an energy big off the bench but we’ll see if that is possible. Plus, I think Monroe is near elite which is a higher ceiling than Hill and Davis.

  21. CHearn says

    It astonishes me that Kobe’s name is in the top 3 every single day on NBA Pulse when he hasn’t played effective basketball in years. Today, he’s tops with 21,909 it’s amazing how polarizing he remains to basketball fans.

  22. Craig W. says

    I have my issues with Byron Scott, but he did get the players to play hard and play together this year – not always possible with a squad on 1-yr deals. Ed Davis and Tarik Black were our rim protectors this year and their specialty is rebounding, not defending the paint. This combined with people with poor defensive skills on the perimeter – read lateral movement – doomed us to having to play to outscore our opponents. With the talent on the club there was no one to carry things consistently, once Kobe went down. Then all the injuries meant we lost an entire starting unit and the season was cast as a lost one.

    This doesn’t mean we didn’t find talent, or that we can’t develop a decent starting unit next year. At least, we should have a good bench, if we sign people judiciously None of this may translate into a championship contender, but the work this year shouldn’t be wasted. That is how I look at the upcoming off-season.

    No we won’t tank, but we will be going forward missing our 1st round draft choices in 2 of the next 3 years, including this year.

  23. the other Stephen says

    @ Kimberly,

    That’s pretty neat. Although, Sacre’s really only seen the Howard and post-Howard disaster years, so those are rather low standards to beat.

  24. Kevin says

    What do you guys think the FO will do if KLove opts out and becomes a FA. Would he be a priority over Greg Monroe? I know his reputation has taken a bit of a hit since under performing in Cleveland but I still think he’s be a great Laker.

    Who is better KLove vs GMonroe?

  25. George says

    Kevin: Who is better KLove vs GMonroe?
    —
    My gut says that Monroe would be a better get. I really like Love’s game but I have concerns that it won’t age well. Love is closer to 6’9″ and while a great rebounder he is not known for his defense or ability to play above the rim. Plus Love would have to play PF.

    Monroe is 2 years younger and can play the Five. He’s a pretty good passer and has a decent mid range game. He is not the 3-pt threat Love is. His defense is not highly regarded but I have seen a few Piston games this year and the announcers said he gets a bad rap in that department. He’s a true 6’11 and has a longer reach.

    A four year deal with Love means he’s under contract through his age 30 season. A four year deal with Monroe means he’s under contract through his age 28 season. Barring injury neither one should turn out to bite us.

  26. Aaron says

    Kevin,
    Love can at least spread the floor pretty well but not great (the only thing I think he can do). But that’s very important. On the other hand Love is an atrocious defender while Monroe is an average defender. The good news is we don’t have to sign either of them (unless there is a Knicks rule in the CBA where you have to use up your cap space right away).

    But under your scenario if you have to sign one to the same amount of money I would sign Love. You can hide a PF on defense occasionally but you can never have a PF on the floor who can’t shoot the three.

  27. Craig W. says

    The thing we all forget about Kevin Love – in large part because he plays in Cleveland – is that he is another rebound monster, and with his court-length chest passes, he can really help a running team.

  28. Anon says

    Kevin – I do not think Kevin Love will opt-out of Cleveland this offseason. A better decision for him would be to wait until the end of his contract, with a much much larger salary cap, to make the best use of his status as a free agent on what could be his last chance at max contract. As far as Greg Monroe, I see him as a valid (and cheaper) alternative to KLove. However, not sure if a contract in the $15mm range he is expected to get in the open market makes sense for a guy with limited defensive capabilities in a Laker team with no defensive weapons. Not that anyone is asking, but I think a better option may be to go after Deandre Jordan. Along the same lines, I like Millsap – but he is on the wrong side of 30.

  29. Bobby says

    Regarding KLove vs GMonroe: I think it depends upon what the Lakers get in the draft. If the Lakers get lucky and select Towns then the need to get Monroe, who can play the 5 is lessened In that instance, Love may be a better fit.

    However, I think the Lakers FO did not draft Randle to be a 6th man. So a big part of this discussion is where are they planning to play Randle. If Randle is a Four then maybe you pass on both Monroe and Love because each of them are best as a Four. If Randle can guard a Three then I think a Randle + Love forward combination could work because of Love’s ability to stretch the floor.

  30. Anonymous says

    If Love opts out he will have his pick of landing spots. Boston made a play for Love when he was still in MN. New York has also been mentioned as wanting him. Love grew up in Oregon and while he played college ball at UCLA he has no real ties to LA.

    If he leaves CLV it will be because they failed in the playoffs. My sense is if they win it will mean whatever tension exists between Lebron and Love were worked out to the point they could excel on the floor. In that instance Love stays. If not, I think Love will want to go somewhere where they are close to winning, which is not LA, BOS or NY. I think a dark horses for Love may be SA or GS.

  31. R says

    Aaron: “Not that anyone is asking, but I think a better option may be to go after Deandre Jordan.”
    I like Jordan too.

    However – just kidding here – can you imagine him on the floor for long minutes with Rondo? Wouldn’t be a lot of made FTs in that scenario … ‘course if the Lakers want to go after the top three pick next year it’s an excellent plan. Aaron, you are a mad genius!! :0)

  32. karen says

    Its pretty obvious who is not coming back next season. boozer, johnson, sacre, lin, and they will release young. I hate kelly but he is the token white, he will never go. Loved lin and young, hate for it to end even when they lost. Appreciate this forum and allowing me to shoot my mouth off.

  34. Anonymous says

    Young should never have been given a 4 year deal. That was a crazy move from the start.

  37. BigCitySid says

    -Understand all of the Monroe talk, Pistons are going no where fast, questionable system/fit for him, his one year play out agreement, and opportunity just to get out of the city of Detroit.

    – Don’t see the Jordan to Laker possibility. At his age, why would he leave a playoff team (who can offer more $$’s) w/ a new highly motivated owner, solid management, a championship winning coach, and talented teammates for, well just the opposite. Lakers can’t even use their weather/location card.

    – As for Love, who’s the most talented player that decided he rather not play w/ LeBron…Boozer?

  39. Robert says

    R: “The long national nightmare is (almost) over.” Do you know something I don’t know?
    Craig: ” but we will be going forward missing our 1st round draft choices in 2 of the next 3 years” I thought you wanted to speak about positive things?
    Karen: “release young” Lately – The Lakers never “release” anyone They either walk, retire, or continue to be an anchor on our cap. Young is in the third category.
    dxmanners: “Nick Young is on the block” Funny – last game I attended he never went inside 15′ of the basket on either offense or defense.
    CHearn: Kobe is like a great rock band. He could go for years without doing anything and then still sell out arenas. And I would be one of the crazies in the front row.

  41. Mid-Wilshire says

    Darius,

    Another idea for a possible discussion after the season is over is perhaps to take inventory of our current players: 1) their stats — PER, defensive ratings, ppg, rpg, assists per game, steals, blocks, etc., 2) comments and observations (are they trending up or down? how did they perform compared to last year?), 3) their prospects: should they be retained? if so, as starters? or rotation players? if not, why not? who’s on the bubble? and so forth.

    I realize that this might involve a good deal of editorializing on your part. But you have a good eye for the game. And we all value your comments. Besides, this would be bound to stir up some heated discussion (which could be fun).

    It’s just a suggestion.

  42. Craig W. says

    Demarcus Cousins and Byron Scott. Now there’s a combination that’s sure to result in a fire somewhere down the line. Great talent though.

  43. R says

    Aaron, my apologies it was “Anon” not “Aaron”.

    Anyway, cool idea but I doubt D Jordan is going anywhere.

  44. R says

    Robert, the nightmare that is this season is almost over. I’m trying not to think about next season. Or the one after, ect.

  45. lil pau says

    Well, I got a nice treat today. It turns out the Lakers season ticket renewal date is, wait for it… one day before our position in the lottery is determined. One could only wish that this level of strategic thinking had been applied to lesser matters such as roster construction. There are some cynical folks walking the corridors of Laker power…

    Or maybe it’s just a coincidence, right? Hmm.

  46. poor lakers says

    Lil pau
    They had to get creative or else they only gonna end up with Jack Nicholson as the only season ticket holder

  47. Darius Soriano says

    I’ve deleted comments speculating on trades. Check the commenting guidelines at the top of the page for an explanation, if you need one.

    Thanks for the thoughts on items to cover during the off-season. We’ll touch on most of the things mentioned, including the playoffs and continued analysis of the players on the roster and next steps. We’ll also talk the lottery, the draft, free agency, and other topics.

    At some point I will also put a call out for additional contributors to the main page of the site. This past season was quite hectic for me as, essentially, the lone contributor putting up content. I would like to have some help with that, but to also bring some diversity in thoughts and ideas to the main page. I’ll put up a post detailing this shortly after the season ends, so be on the lookout for that.

  49. Todd says

    Sorry, I missed the Love Monroe discussion yesterday. Here are my thoughts.

    I am in the camp that believes Love won’t opt out. The Cavs gave up a future star in Wiggins to get him. Quite frankly with how awful the downside of Love leaving would be I’m surprised that he has taken so much heat in the press. You would think Lebron and management would be falling over backwards to make this work. So public growing pains aside they seem to have righted the ship, #2 in the East, 7th best record overall. I think they make a deep playoff run and Love never hits the market.

    So, my wanting to sign Monroe is because Love is not an option. Additionally, the Lakers do not have an NBA center. The fact that Monroe can play the Five is a big plus. If the Lakers are fortunate to draft Towns then a decision will need to be made. In that circumstance it only make sense to pursue Monroe if the FO feels that Randle can play the Three. Can Randle guard the position and can he help spread the floor on the offensive end?

    The odds are that the Lakers keep their pick but draft outside of the top 2, which means the PGs Mudiay and Russell are the likely possibilities. Randle has yet to play an NBA minute, Hill is expensive and on a team option, Davis has a player option, Black is a FA and Sacre is strictly practice fodder on a team option — there is enough uncertainty in our front to make signing a near elite 24 year old Monroe a good decision.

    Again, I am also urging the FO to be active this summer in advance of the cap expanding for every team next off season. There are a few restricted FAs who are young, fit needs and can play: Tobias Harris (SF) and Khris Middleton (SG/SF). They deserve more than a cursory look.

    I am tired of losing and treading water. I believe that the Kobe extension was designed to buy Jim time – to provide a security blanket from having to make any meaningful basketball decisions. Well, it’s now time for the FO to focus on basketball decisions that actually move the team forward. As Kobe might say, “it’s time for Jim to put on his big boy pants.”

  50. Darius Soriano says

    RE Love — Just to clarify, I am pretty sure he has said that he is very likely to *opt-out* of his contract at the end of this season. The question is if whether he stays in Cleveland and, if he does, how long a deal he will sign. Several people I have spoken to think it’s quite likely that both Love and LeBron exercise their options to become FA’s at the end of this year, sign a one year max deal (or a multi-year deal with an opt-out option after one season) so they can hit free agency again when the cap skyrockets up so they can take advantage of the higher new maximum deals. I think this makes a lot of sense for LeBron. We’ll see what Love does. But I’m almost positive he will be a FA this summer even if his intention is to stay with the Cavs — it’s in his best interest to sign a new deal in July.

  51. Vasheed says

    @Todd,
    Black is not a FA, he has a non-guaranteed year next year that I believe the Lakers would be wise to keep.

  52. Darius Soriano says

    In adding to my post above, I do not think that Love is really an option for the Lakers on the FA market, though. As it stands, the Lakers have a lot of needs, but the most glaring ones are on the wing (at either SF or SG) and at C. Love cannot play C and Randle is not a full time SF regardless of what some here want to think. Yes, the Lakers have “needs” all over the floor, but roster construction is about prioritizing those needs properly. I have no inside information about this, but I think most would agree that the Lakers need list would likely be:

    1a. Center/Rim protector
    1b. SF/SG who is a capable two-way player
    3. SF/SG who can really shoot
    4. PG who can usurp Clarkson or share the floor with him

    Add those players to the guys who have guaranteed contracts and/or non-guaranteed deals who are likely to return: Kobe, Clarkson, Young, Kelly, Black, and Brown. Now add in, potentially, Davis and/or Hill (I’d prefer Davis) and you have the makings of a full roster.

    At least one and, hopefully, two of those needs above will be addressed with draft picks. The others will be targeted in free agency. Trades may further shape the roster (a recent report that Young might be on the block, for example, would change the roster construction).

    Personally — and this is something I will write on eventually — I think the Lakers FA money will be spent on a wing because they need more than one of them. I do not think the Lakers need to spend all their money in FA this summer, but one key rotation player in the $8-12 million a year range will not kill their cap next year or moving forward into 2016 *and* it should help increase their talent base enough that whatever FA they try to recruit isn’t coming to a bare cupboard.

  53. Todd says

    I’m not sure I’m allowed to comment on the speculation of using our draft pick to acquire Cousins. I would imagine that the Kings would want #1 or #2 pick so they could draft Towns or Okafor. So, the odds are long that the Lakers get either of those draft picks.

    Cousins is a true talent and is young (24) so there is no concern about a short window. However, he is very temperamental so you worry about the Lakers having the right infrastructure to keep him focused — you don’t want this to be Dwight Part 2. There is also concern about his conditioning – he’s not chiseled by any means. At the same age Shaq was in much better shape than Cousins and we know what Shaq became physically in his last few Lakers seasons.

    I’m not saying I wouldn’t think about such a move it’s just not a slam dunk from the Lakers point of view. Additionally, if you are Sacramento would you deal him to a division rival? No, I think he goes to the Knicks, who are likely to get the top pick, or to the Celtics for a good chunk of their 19 future draft picks.

  54. Todd says

    Vasheed Black is not a FA, he has a non-guaranteed year next year that I believe the Lakers would be wise to keep.

    Darius: RE Love — Just to clarify, I am pretty sure he has said that he is very likely to *opt-out* of his contract at the end of this season. The question is if whether he stays in Cleveland …
    __

    HoopsHype Salaries lists Black as a FA effective at the end of this season. If Black is under a non guaranteed contract then yes, I agree that he should be retained.

    Darius, you are correct Love will likely opt out to re-sign with the Cavs.

  55. Aaron says

    Todd,
    That’s an Aaron A plus take on Cousins. Wow. I’m very impressed. I think he has a couple more years playing at an elite level. He has elite coordination but barley enough speed, quickness, and leaping ability to play at that high level. His work ethic wont allow him to keep those up above sea level for much longer. I love him for a win now team but not for the Lakers. Even if he doesn’t gain anymore weight he will lose the preverbial step much sooner than a normal player who stays in shape and works on his body.

  56. Anonymous says

    I’d love to see posts about the various playoff series as they play out. I love my Lakers. But I am a basketball fan above all. I love the game itself. I’ll be just as glued to the TV watching other teams. It would be great to talk playoff matchups and strategy here with such an intelligent group.

  59. R says

    JC: “Anyone ever see the film Being There with Peter Sellers?
    A gardener lucks into prominence by saying just enough vague stuff that sounds profound for everyone to think he’s a genius.
    My son and I used to joke that that was really Phil’s story.”

    This is hilarious – I think you and your son are onto something. Only semi related, have you ever seen the outtakes of Sellers blowing a line for the movie over and over and becoming hysterical?

  60. Todd says

    Darius: regarding Basketball Insiders

    __

    Thanks for the heads up. They will be my go to resource.

  62. Hale says

    Lakers have won the M-I-T (most injury time) for the second consecutive year according to a Baxter Holmes tweet. Who’s accepting that plaque?

  64. Baylor Fan says

    JC: “Anyone ever see the film Being There with Peter Sellers?

    Definitely is not Phil but that sounds like something JB would say. Really, you think that anyone could walk in the room and get Kobe and Shaq to tolerate each other and win championships together? Dream on. Phil was a go to guy for Pete Carroll before he took the job with Seattle. I would say that Phil’s ideas work out okay.

  65. Kimberly says

    Hi Darius,

    I think my comment inquiring if anyone had thoughts about a Demarcus cousin trade possibility got nixed? Apologize if it is considered trade speculation- but unsure where the line is between discussing the potential of that and of kevin love to LA. Here is an additional link referencing George Karl recently relaying how no one on the kings is “untradeable”, etc. Please clarify further. Much appreciated! http://sircharlesincharge.com/2015/04/15/nba-rumors-kings-hint-cousins-trade/