Hawks - Kings

[lethalweapon3]

All aboard the Sleep Train! Not sure how anyone conceptually combines locomotives and mattresses into a successful venture, but I digress. The Hawks spring into California Wine Country to face the Sacramento Kings tonight at their oddly-re-re-named arena.

The pan-flashing Tyreke Evans remains a man without a defined position or role. He’s starting at shooting guard, but is only hitting 9% of his threes, 22% of his long-twos (16-to-23 feet), and 25% of his short-twos (3-to-9 feet). He was moved there after being largely overmatched at small forward last season. Perhaps cursed by his Oscar Robertson impersonation from his rookie season, he leads the Kings by default in assists but is still seen as an inadequate distributor, with an early career-low assist rate of 19%. Getting less than 30 minutes of floor time in his last two games, Reke is getting close to halving his rookie-year scoring production (11.3 PPG, down from 20.1 in 2010), and is getting increasingly flustered by Coach Keith Smart’s rotations. He seems like a guy just waiting for someone, anyone, to throw him a lifeline.

Primary backcourt scoring for Sacto now arrives courtesy of last year’s leading scorer, Marcus Thornton, usually spelling Evans off the bench. Thornton’s in that Microwave-type role that’s becoming all the rage (Lou, Jamal, formerly Harden) across the league. But in terms of excitement, for the Kings and their fans, it feels sort of like Microwaving a Hot Pocket right now.

After a two-game suspension, has DeMarcus Cousins learned his lesson? Hawks fans know that personally calling out color commentators after the game can be hazardous to your health. Sean Elliott is one thing, but such wisdom especially applies if said broadcaster is the Human Highlight Film. If you’ve got beefs, DMC, you might just want to settle for telling it to your Tweeps. You probably don’t want no part of Rathbun, either.

In last Friday’s Spurs-Kings matchup, a frustrated Cousins took exception to Elliott chastising him for crowing to his teammates after a couple fortuitous scores against the venerable Tim Duncan late in the ballgame. Duncan, whom Cousins loudly declared would be dominated henceforth using words like “bust” and “*ss,” eventually swatted DeMarcus' shot and scored several baskets on him, on his way to a decisive Spurs’ victory. Elliott did some crowing of his own, demanding some humility from the up-and-comer for disrespecting his competitive elder. Cousins caught word and laid in wait, still in-uniform, for Elliott after the latter’s postgame show, trading some bon môts before Elliott walked off. Cousins, 22, would tell the local paper he thought the 44-year-old Elliott was “immature” because of his comments, a critique that is simply rife with comedy.

Will he be able to keep his composure against his more contemporary rival Al Horford, back from a bout with the stomach flu, and the freshly-stitched Zaza Pachulia?

As the leading scorer for the 2-6 Kings, who have dropped three straight, Cousins has more things to worry about than the opposing teams’ editorials. The Kings are going back-and-forth with Indiana for the title of “fewest assists in the league.” Starting point guard Isaiah Thomas is delivering just 1.4 assists per game and 2.3 turnovers. None of the point guards average more than two assists. And despite a team field goal percentage of 28% on all shots beyond 15 feet (last in the NBA), Cousins’ backcourt buddies are ready to shoot, Jack! Just shout, “Jimmer!” from the stands, and the ball is in the air.

Among starting NBA centers, only Andrew Bogut is getting less help on his field goals (34.9% assisted) than Cousins. On offense, the Kings are forcing him to go it mostly alone down on the blocks while guys like Horford (72%) and Duncan (75%) get plenty of assistance. In part due to this, he is statistically down across the board from last year in virtually every category except turnovers, shooting just 43%.

Sacto has missed more than just Cousins during the past few games. Starting point guard Isaiah Thomas missed the last game for bereavement leave. Like Horford, his Dominican summertime teammate Francisco Garcia has been fighting the flu. Free agent signee Aaron Brooks sprained his ankle 7 minutes into their last game and couldn’t return. Completing the revolving door, rookie should-be-sensation Thomas Robinson returned after being suspended two games for his “get-from-in-front-of-me” elbow to Jonas Jerebko’s throat. As Kings fans are hoping for some stability from this franchise, Coach Smart can only grasp for some stability from this roster.

DMC is striving to be just a little more active defensively. He leads all NBA centers with 2.0 steals per game. His rebounding and shot-blocking is down mostly because he is getting more consistent help in the post from Jason Thompson and his reserve Chuck Hayes. Unfortunately for him and the Kings, Sacramento gives up offensive rebounds (31.4% of possessions) more frequently than anyone aside from Charlotte.

Kings free agent acquisition and former Jeff Teague collegiate teammate James Johnson does contribute steals and rejections from the starting small forward spot. While he’s seen to be offensively challenged, Johnson, who led the Kings in scoring in their last game, dropped 15 and 18 on the Hawks during back-to-back nights with the Raptors in April. If Cousins needs backup to deal with any loudmouth commentators, he should know Johnson is a second-degree karate black belt with a 21-0 amateur kickboxing/MMA record.

It’s not a completely sad-Sac bunch defensively, as they can look to guys on the wing like Johnson and John Rashall Salmons to slow your roll. King opponents rank in the bottom five of the league in FG% for threes and long-twos. Rather than engaging the Kings in a long-range shooting test of will, Hawk guards will want to drive on the Jimmer Fredettes, Aaron Brookses, and Marcus Thorntons of the world, either finding their power forward (whoever gets Thompson defending him) on penetration, or drawing fouls on the way to the hoop. The opposing personnel seems tailor-made for a bounce-back game from Teague. Jeff has not surpassed 40% shooting in each of his last three games after shooting 60% in his first four.

Go Hawks!

~lw3

Edited November 16, 2012 by lethalweapon3

[MrMeltdown]

Teague needs to request a trade

[AnthonyI11]

Why did Teague only play 19 minutes?

[cam1218]

Thanks for the preview lw3, they are always much appreciated and very entertaining too.What's going on with LD and Teague??

[Mully]

Someone needs to tell Horford he isn't a point guard.

[ViperXX79]

Someone needs to tell Horford he isn't a point guard.

Both Al and Josh think they can run the point from time to time. Rarely ends well.