Ball all over the field. It's pretty evident that that is what the Niners need to start doing to be productive on offense. Their first half effort against Green Bay was horrible. Then, like someone flipped a switch, they came out in the second half pitching the ball all over and scoring at will.
I swear we've seen this before... Oh, that's right. Just a few weeks ago in Houston. Sure the Texans and Packers D probably let up a little in the second half with huge leads. I'm sure that pressure returned once the Niners cut it a two score game. Yet, in both cases the Niners were able to make it a one score game.
One of the biggest gripes fans had about Mike Nolan was his unwillingness to change. He was going to do it his way and everyone else be darned. I am starting to get the same feeling from Singletary and Jimmy Raye. The Niners have gone to a spread look in both games and scored 21 points in a half. So, explain to me why you would not want to run this more often.
Two of the biggest draft picks in your recent history, Smith and Crabtree, came from the spread system. Vernon Davis has caught most, if not all, his touchdowns from the formation. Frank Gore is great receiver out of the backfield and I would argue one of the best pass blocking RBs in the game. You have Morgan, Hill and Walker chomping at the bit to get on the field. Your O-Line has shown it cannot maintain blocks or move the line of scrimmage. With all those factors telling them otherwise, Raye and Singletary spent an entire half yesterday running into a brick wall. I am starting to see a definition of insanity reference coming on here.
I am not saying that the spread offense is a panacea. This team has issues. The entire team looked like it forgot to get on the plane in the first half. The D could not stop the run game nor get pressure through the supposedly porous Packers O-Line. The Niners line continues to struggle and now is dealing with further injuries. These three things all need to be addressed. But most of them will have to wait til the off-season. The Niners can change their offensive philosophy now. The coaches would have us believe otherwise and that it makes the team one dimensional. The play on the field doesn't support that. The scoring numbers are higher and Gore's rushing numbers are just as good out of the spread and single-back as they are from the I-formation.
This is about a philosophical change. One that if not made soon, could result in some other changes...
Monday, November 23, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Kings Need a Shooter
I never thought I would say this, but the Kings need a shooter. Last night's game against the Bulls was an indication that, with Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia out, the Kings are lacking a consistent shooter.
Like the Kings, the Bulls were playing scrappy. They were clogging the lane, daring the Kings to shoot from the outside and there was no one to answer the call. It was a far cry from recent Kings teams where as soon as the ball crossed mid-court there was a good chance it would be shot by whoever touched it first.
I am glad shots were not going up from all over the gym, but someone has to be able to shoot from the outside to keep teams honest. It is clear that without K-Mart and Cisco, and to a lesser degree Nocioni, this is a weak spot for this team.
At one point Tyreke had a wide open three. He double clutched it and tried to force a pass inside. Turnover. The confidence in his shot was gone. Donte Greene, who last season would jack three's with no hesitation, was willing to shoot, but his shot is still the weakest part of his game. Sergio Rodriguez was zipping beautiful passes all over the place, but you can tell he believes he has no jumper. Beno was the only one with a consistent stroke and yet Sergio was playing well enough that he couldn't get off the bench.
Don't get me wrong, if this is the biggest problem the Kings have in the short term, I'll take it. Nocioni should be back soon. K-Mart and Cisco, soon enough. In the grand scheme of things, it's actually quite encouraging that this team is only losing when their outside shots aren't falling. That's a far cry from teams of the recent past.
Like the Kings, the Bulls were playing scrappy. They were clogging the lane, daring the Kings to shoot from the outside and there was no one to answer the call. It was a far cry from recent Kings teams where as soon as the ball crossed mid-court there was a good chance it would be shot by whoever touched it first.
I am glad shots were not going up from all over the gym, but someone has to be able to shoot from the outside to keep teams honest. It is clear that without K-Mart and Cisco, and to a lesser degree Nocioni, this is a weak spot for this team.
At one point Tyreke had a wide open three. He double clutched it and tried to force a pass inside. Turnover. The confidence in his shot was gone. Donte Greene, who last season would jack three's with no hesitation, was willing to shoot, but his shot is still the weakest part of his game. Sergio Rodriguez was zipping beautiful passes all over the place, but you can tell he believes he has no jumper. Beno was the only one with a consistent stroke and yet Sergio was playing well enough that he couldn't get off the bench.
Don't get me wrong, if this is the biggest problem the Kings have in the short term, I'll take it. Nocioni should be back soon. K-Mart and Cisco, soon enough. In the grand scheme of things, it's actually quite encouraging that this team is only losing when their outside shots aren't falling. That's a far cry from teams of the recent past.
Monday, November 16, 2009
The Okafor Discussion
After reading the recent Bee article about a discussion between the Kings and Hornets that would send Kenny Thomas to New Orleans for Emeka Okafor.
In name value this sounds like a big win for the Kings. In contract and overall value this is a horrible deal for the Kings. Okafor has huge money, 5 years, $62.5 million, left on his deal. This would give the Kings two near max contract deals and a bunch of young talent that will quickly be running out of team options. In other words, they'd be right back in salary cap hell.
Let's not also forget that Okafor has a history of back problems. These have not been there since turning pro, but last time I checked back problems don't get better as you get older.
Petrie holds a really large bargaining chip with Thomas' expiring contract. The kind of piece you use to pick up a couple young promising players with team options and draft picks, not one high (some might say over) priced player. Petrie should think Artest trade, not Webber trade. Think Trailblazers, not Knicks.
The Kings are building and shouldn't forget that. They have had a small amount of success early this season, but this is not the time to get punch drunk and thinking this is a playoff team. There is no need to make quick fixes. Stick to the plan. Clear payroll. Build a core through the draft. Then, add pieces through trade and free agency.
The dividends are starting to show. No reason to change the strategy now.
In name value this sounds like a big win for the Kings. In contract and overall value this is a horrible deal for the Kings. Okafor has huge money, 5 years, $62.5 million, left on his deal. This would give the Kings two near max contract deals and a bunch of young talent that will quickly be running out of team options. In other words, they'd be right back in salary cap hell.
Let's not also forget that Okafor has a history of back problems. These have not been there since turning pro, but last time I checked back problems don't get better as you get older.
Petrie holds a really large bargaining chip with Thomas' expiring contract. The kind of piece you use to pick up a couple young promising players with team options and draft picks, not one high (some might say over) priced player. Petrie should think Artest trade, not Webber trade. Think Trailblazers, not Knicks.
The Kings are building and shouldn't forget that. They have had a small amount of success early this season, but this is not the time to get punch drunk and thinking this is a playoff team. There is no need to make quick fixes. Stick to the plan. Clear payroll. Build a core through the draft. Then, add pieces through trade and free agency.
The dividends are starting to show. No reason to change the strategy now.
Friday, November 13, 2009
I'll Have the Crow!
I know it's only eight games into the season, but I have to eat some crow on the Kings. I was really not impressed with their opening night loss. Thankfully they have proven to be a very competitive team and that is all I ever wanted from this young squad.
I give major props to Coach Westphal. He appears to be the right man for the job. His lineup has been in flux and even with the injuries and roster changes he is finding pieces that work. He is not static in his playing time, rewarding players who perform, and penalizing those who don't. Contracts and draft numbers don't seem to dictate playing time under Westphal. It's the way coaches are supposed to operate. His game management is the best I've seen of a Kings coach since, well, ever.
As much as I know it pains some Kings fans, Petrie deserves some credit too. He did hire Westphal, even though I am positive the Maloofs wanted Rambis. After a couple off-seasons of bad contracts, the signings of Sean May, Desmond Mason and Ime Udoka to bargin contracts, were very good moves. Kenny Thomas is performing and Petrie, should he want to, can move him for significant value at the trade deadline. I thought for sure Donte Greene was packed for Reno, but an attitude change appears to have given him new life.
Look, I am not signing up for playoff tickets or anything, but the Kings are a quarter of a way to their win total from last year after only an tenth of the season. For you math wizards, that puts them on pace for forty wins. All this without two of their arguably best players. Do I think they'll get to forty? Probably not, but I don't think thirty is out of the question, and seventeen is a distant memory.
I give major props to Coach Westphal. He appears to be the right man for the job. His lineup has been in flux and even with the injuries and roster changes he is finding pieces that work. He is not static in his playing time, rewarding players who perform, and penalizing those who don't. Contracts and draft numbers don't seem to dictate playing time under Westphal. It's the way coaches are supposed to operate. His game management is the best I've seen of a Kings coach since, well, ever.
As much as I know it pains some Kings fans, Petrie deserves some credit too. He did hire Westphal, even though I am positive the Maloofs wanted Rambis. After a couple off-seasons of bad contracts, the signings of Sean May, Desmond Mason and Ime Udoka to bargin contracts, were very good moves. Kenny Thomas is performing and Petrie, should he want to, can move him for significant value at the trade deadline. I thought for sure Donte Greene was packed for Reno, but an attitude change appears to have given him new life.
Look, I am not signing up for playoff tickets or anything, but the Kings are a quarter of a way to their win total from last year after only an tenth of the season. For you math wizards, that puts them on pace for forty wins. All this without two of their arguably best players. Do I think they'll get to forty? Probably not, but I don't think thirty is out of the question, and seventeen is a distant memory.
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