So, KT is a black hole after all... Full team analysys

Kenny doesn' fair well against zone defenses cuz he's mostly a one on one player and not a great shooter. He does look like he wants to shoot every time he touches the ball. I like him coming off the bench where his touches are limited and plays vs other 2nd stringers. I think having Kenny starting even affected Mo's play cuz Mo seemed anxious to shoot alot too once he got in there. Probably knew he was coming out soon anyway. Actually, he did make a comment in yesterdays Chronicle about that.

 

Yeah, you're right about needing to stick to a game plan and starting lineup, but I can see why Rudy's having a tought time of it. However, I still stand beside MoT. He's talented, he has a very nice stroke, and his confidence is probly shot to hell right now. BUT, I think he can get it back, at least before this season is over, and then what an addition he'll make next season! Also he seems to like passing to Yao, very good thing on this team. I want to keep him this season. Let's see what player he will turn out to be after that injury. If he's only so-so, sure trade him, but right now you're gonna be trading him at the lowest value. And no Brian Grant. I've seen this guy play plenty of times, and he is NOT what the rox need. And yes, getting back to your thread title, KT is a black hole, and a big one. Why can't he stop taking those long jump shots?? He ain't no good at them. We can still use him this season, he's not too shabby a player, and he hustles. But I don't think he has a place on this team anymore. Also, I would take Francis over Tinsley anyday, come on ya'll, it's stevie franchise. Stand by him till the end!
Mobley is good as starter or sixth man, either way he should get his minutes, this guy is awesome and a hard as hell worker I've ever seen.
EVERYBODY, has to agree that some time should be taken off of Rice's (and ever kt's time) to make room for Nachbar and TMo. These two kiddos are gonna be great, and we need to develop them. They're the rox's future. Plus I believe they'll start contributing more than rice soon, especially on defense (TMo)...
But again, if there's anyway to get Kurt Thomas or Elton Brand, hell yes! Of course there isn't, so I say stick with what we have, it'll work. Hell, it won't just work, it'll be perfection.

 

Now that Mooch has temporarily gotten out of the dog house, Trade KT will be the only cry for today.

 

KT cant shoot the damn ball, end of statement.

 

I just wish Kenny would pass more. Even if he doesn't, he should at least make his move fairly soon instead of taking 15 seconds off the clock trying to decide what to do.

It's funny because coming into the season we all looked at the foward spot as our strongest area with at least 3 guys who potentially average 15+ points and around 8 or 9 rebounds, but it just isn't turning out that way. There have been glimpses or teases of what we can do when they're all on their game, but that's not the case now. I hope it's all mental and the guys learn to share minutes and produce. We all know they have the talent.

 

i would say hell ya for B.Grant. the man can board like crrazyyy. not that yao, griffin, or Cato can;t but Grant boards consistently.

 

He has a back problem that didn't limit him from starting and playing. I think the idea there for Rudy was put him in to cause the Spurs to have to cover him and respect his positioning in order to open it up inside early for the plan to have Steve and Yao take it to Duncan and Robinson. I think they were trying score like that or get Duncan or Robinson in foul trouble. It worked! It caused Duncan to have to play D without a guy to sag and help which you always want against an offensive player to take some steam out. Yao went crazy inside. Steve had more space...

 

I think it is still a bit hasty to think the team would be better with Steve at SG. It may be true, but there is one thing I have noticed when the Rockets play the Spurs here lately, and it is that Parker absolutley gives Francis fits defensively. The guy is just so quick, Steve has a difficult time driving past him. And when he tries, and is unsuccesful, he gets nervous and makes poor decisions. That sucks, but it won't happen very often as we play the Spurs only 4 times during the regular season. Steve has had some poor games lately, but I think his turnover problem can be brought under control.

 

How incredible would this team be without Mike Miller?

I'd trade everyone but Francis, Ming, Cato, Griffin, and maybe Mobley for any package including Miller.

That would give us a championship core:

Ming/Cato
Griffin
Miller
Mobley
Francis

Every type of offense in the league. Driving, penetrating, shooting, posting up, fast breaking, jump shooting. Offensively, best team in the league, any starter could go off for 25 points, and it wouldn't turn a single head.

But for all we know, Boki might be Mike Miller JR., so it's probably better to wait than make any rash decisions.

The core players on this team are becoming more and more clear. MoT, KT, Rice, Moochie, and Hawkins are not long term. Francis, Ming, Grififn, and Mobley are. Cato is here for this year at least.

BTW, we have a roster FULL of trade-type players. Big man who rebounds like crazy, and is a great defender at a ver yreasonable contract. Jump shooting veteran sharpshooter with a 1 year contract worth 10M in cap space. High scoring SG maybe(Mobley)? MoT can help a lot of teams get over the hump if he gets back to his form.

Two trades:

Cato for Mike Miller and a backup C.
If we find a better SG, Rice and Mobley for that SG.

 

Thanos,

somehow this has seriously been lost in the translation. I am not in disagreement of KT's offensive woes. I've merely been talking about why he's insurance for us now, and why he is getting the minutes. My only disagreement is I don't subscribe to the notion that he can not and will not adjust his game to a more winning plan, when the team finds it as a whole. I see roles for defenders with fast slashing abilities, just like Shandon.

Having seen every game this year, I saw slight improvement.

As for defense, I continue to be very proud of our K9, as many are around here. zero complaints there.

mfgarza,

Did you really mean to say that Kenny is responsible for Maurice fumbling the ball in his low post isolation sets? NBA teams run low post isolation to their PFs. It will not go away from this team entirely. Thorpe got a handful of isolations each game, didn't he?? And he ran PnRs, right?

 

I think you are putting words into my mouth. I though you'd be willing to discusse his woes and his improvement we saw last night.

I stand by my original scouting report of Kenny. But, we don't have to discuss that. Can't we talk about the game, or do you just want to pit scouting reports against each other.

Let me critique you then:

Kenny is stronger, faster and gets off the floor quicker. He did not lose strength.

Kenny's experiment at the 3 turned out failure for one reason only, because Eddie cannot play the 4 this year. I expect to see KT back to the 3 once Maurice stops being such a failure. Thanos, it is obvious you are reading way too much into 19 minutes if you are going to say anything about KT as a three, since you never saw it, and he never really actually got defended by any 3s at any time this year other than preseason.

Let's not argue about speculative stuff concerning his mentality. It isn't needed. I love Kenny as a basketball player, and I have several reasons that have convinced me of that. Don't say I love him for reasons other than basketball and am blinding myself. Just say you disagree and why. You want to trade him. I wouldn't this year. OK. Let's move on.

<blockquote><hr>and he has failed, time and again this season to realise that his role is that of a role player. <hr></blockquote>
Did you say you only saw one game. Just talk about the game you saw, if you want to rap about game talk. How can Kenny have failed over and over at "realizing" anything concerning his role when Eddie and Maurice continue to not be the complete answer, either?

 

If KT is all these things, then why isn't he playing, at least, at the same level as last year?

 

This KT black hole theory just doesnt necessarily hold water as much as some would think. Although, I havent tracked the stats the last 5 or 6 games, during a 6 game stretch that I did track, KT had more assist opportunities than anyone else on the team in 5 of those games, and more than Francis in all 6. KT actually sets his teamates up for scores quite often. I think the misconception comes into play when we see him make so many drives to the basket, a la Francis, Mobley or Norris. Its almost become accepted that our 3 guards can do that, but not one of our bigmen.

IMO, KT, while looking selfish at times, tries to make things happen when hes in there and almost acts as a point forward in some instances when we run the ball through him on a given possession.

Last, KT is only averaging what, 7 or 8 shots a game? For a starter, thats not bad at all. Considering what he brings defensively, the poor decisions he makes on offense sometimes, is almost acceptable.

 

Where is all the evidence that KT is a black hole? I don't get it. When Rudy T iso's him there is NOBODY open. They are all standing around! How many shots per game does he average? 8?

And besides, he is the best option at this point. Mo Taylor can't outrebound Moochie Norris, he can't play D, and the only thing he offers is a marginal outside shot. Total stiff. I like when he dribbles though, it makes me think he will actually do something. But then he just settles for the outside shot as usual.

Eddie Griffin has no inside moves and has struggled. But I think he should split lots of time with KT because of his shotblocking.

 

I agree with you, although I didn't before taken a closer look (Very close) at his entire game some games back. I still think that sometimes he needs to leave that outside shot for someone else. Like you pointed out he takes 7 or 8 shots a game, not to bad for someone trying to get a contract. KT likes to play defense he really gives it a go even though he gives up a lot of weight and height. You have to like a scrapper. But we all know that he is not the answer (I don't think) at the 3 or 4, but he is better suited playing both over the other two EG & MoT.

 

Thanos,

Seriously, I had zero idea that English wasn't your first language. The "lost in translation" was *not* directed at you. I used it to say how many posters are labelling as someone who doesn't believe Kenny has faults.

man, I had no intention for that to be interpreted the way you did. I thought my first response was very good for conversation. I felt you wanted a response, since you referred to me. I think this conversation got off on the wrong track. You thought I was being childish, and I felt you put words in my mouth about my take on Kenny, in your first response.

it happens.

Next time, tape the game, and we discuss it via email if you want using game clock. We won't get misunderstand that way.

cheers

for another day