KPJ: Can someone explain to me why he has become Clutchfans favorite whipping boy?

KPJ defense squad arriving :



“Eras don’t matter” “stats tell maybe 30% of the story because I said so” “efficiency? Who cares?!?” “You b**** about KPJ but what about player x,y,z” “my ymca experience…”

 

Look it is ok to criticize and critique ANY player - any at all - but FFS don't criticize one for someone else mistake like that transition D issue which is either Jalen, Ego or Both.

Not letting KPJ off the hook but in that Hollinger scenario sense tweeted as an admonishment on KPJ - KPJ would have the 5th man back to start the defensive possession.

And anyone saying otherwise has no clue on how transition defense works.

DD

 

It's always someone else's fault!!!

 

Where can I find transition defense on the stat card I need to verify that one player can be the root of the other 4 guys not giving a F either

 

KPJ is a good NBA player, but he is not a Point Guard. He is a shooting guard or a great 6th Man on good team. There is no other GM would touch KPJ because of his attitude. Everybody knows he do what he wants to do in this offense because Life coach Silas will not say anything. KPJ is averaging almost 20 points a game and THERE IS NO NBA TRADE CHATTER ABOUT HIM. People are talking about Martin, Gordon and even Eason but nobody say anything about KPJ. Stone likes KPJ and he knows if you put a good coach in charge, KPJ would not be here long or just leave at halftime during a game.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_equivalence

Also, using your logic, Sengun aint **** either, there's been absolutely 0 reports of people asking for him via trade.

 

Why? back when he was 19 he got upset for being dissed and having his locker given away -- something Kenny Smith for instance saw as very insulting. He threw some food at a coach

 

This is exactly what I mean, people trot out his TO as if that trumps everything else about his game.

Yes, he needs to do better, but that does not mean he is now a terrible player because of it.

 

None of them play D, watch Green quit on this play like 3 times.



None of them are held accountable.

The sulking part is true...100%.....the rest is completely inaccurate about transition defense.

DD

 

Saying "without context" sounds like another way of saying "spin".

His numbers are worse than everyone else across the board... and by a significant extent.... even those he shares the court with most of the time... but sure, tell me how his every shortcoming is everyone else's fault.

It's just pathetic.

 

You all know I'm PRO - KPJ. I've said often that he has been the most consistent player on the team BUT he should have been and should be called out for this. He can't call himself a leader and this is what he's doing....SULKING

HOWEVER, I blame Silas for not calling a timeout after the first couple of times the players did not get back!! If nothing else, just to make sure ALL the players were on the same page and to emphasize that they need to get back on defense.

Yeah we can blame KPJ for that one instance but I blame Silas more so.

 

I'm pretty sure you have no clue on how transition defense works.

 

Shot selection and decision-making, the same thing any other player needs to do to become more efficient.

He is far from a finished project, but he does far more good than bad.

 

By all means please help us all and explain it.
DD

 

You explain it. Who is responsible for 21 if Green is responsible for Hardaway?

 

Here is how transition defense is supposed to work, the guy at the center of the top, or the furthest away from goal has the responsibility of stopping the long over the top transition pass - they are supposed to get back to the 3pt or FT line and set up as a safety- then they pickup based upon where they are in getting back.

The 2nd man back should stop the dribble - everyone should be sprinting back and get ahead of the ball once it is either stopped or slowed down.

On the particular play, KPJ sulks, his man sprints, Jabari and Sengun go for the board, leaving Ego at the top and Jalen literally right next to him, one of them, probably EGo should have busted back to stop any transition with the 2nd helping. Neither did that, and we gave up a layup.

There is no way, KPJ could have beaten that man who took off on the shot, that is why you play team transition D, what the Rockets do, is none of what I just said, they all just sort of meander back or pickup whomever and let whatever happens happen.

In addition, we don't need 2 guys crashing the glass, if you want to win in the league offensive rebounding is not how you do it, you limit transition points and make it harder for the opponent to score and you get better at making shots - we actually do a great job of creating GREAT looks we just don't finish them well.

So for me, Ego back first, Green 2nd, KPJ should have been humping it back instead of sulking and both Jabari and Sengun should not be crashing the offensive glass, at most one of the two with the other busting it back on D.

Once transition is over, you work your way back to your own man.

DD

 

Isolated play - and I generally agree with your transition d comments on responsibility - but imo you are wrong here. here's the thing in that clip

a) his defender didn't sprint down court after his shot. he jogged and found himself wide open for the break - the mavs are a horrible transition team and don't look to fast break, they fall into when playing the rockets

b) KPJ wasn't locked too far down court and had no business staring at the shot/rebound opportunity - his job after that shot is to book it back down to the other end of the court - not linger

c) if he had done his job and hustled back down - he had the best line to take responsibility considering position on court and typical defensive primary assignment to stay in front of (I'm fine with saying that considering he wasn't in position - Jabari should have recognized sooner instead of flattening at the top of the key)

KPJ has been better his last couple of games and I don't want to make too much of this one play; but this is one of his attributes that drives me up a wall - his sulking on a possession and giving away a transition medium break to a team that doesn't even fast break. Seems he studied James Harden's defense in depth

 

Here is how transition defense is supposed to work, YOU RUN BACK.

34 yo veteran is NOT going to cover up for 22 yo's sh*tty effort on transition defense. It's simple as that.

 

All great points and I agree. Especially with the point above. Offensive rebounding is great, but not at the expense of good transition defense.

I watched the Boston game again but this time the Boston broadcast (do that sometimes to hear the competitions takes on our team) and believe it was in that game that one of their broadcasters made the comment that we "...over pursue offensive rebounds". Thought it was an odd take at the time but we then proceeded to give up transition bucket after transition bucket.

Hard to win in this league when you are giving up lay-ups in transition and then forced to score in half-court. Dallas game was an excellent example of this too.

P.S. No excuse for KPJ not getting back with Hardaway, that was just lack of effort period.