Kings vs Warriors Preseason Game Thread

Javalle McGee is a Foul Waiting to Happen. He’s a Turnover Waiting to Happen. Any time he ventures onto the perimeter, he’s begging to get torched.  He’s not as good as he thinks he is. His shot blocking presence is not worth the carelessness with which he plays. He lacks balance, hands and temperment. I have little use for him absent a time machine back to 2018 when he was a functional player. 

I am afraid we signed him, the GM catering to the coach against his better judgment, based on who we was rather than who he is, and when the better backup center (Len) is under our nose.

It would be unfortunate if we spend 10-15 games realizing McGee cant’t play, cough away 3-4 games with him fumbling around when we would cruise to victory on his absence.  I hope to be proven wrong and he starts to minimze the blunders. Uuntil then, I dub him Mr. McBlunder.

Kevin Huerter is in trouble. The guy is headed for the Doghouse. He’s already there, in fact, he’s been demoted to the second team, it just hasn’t been made official. He’s our new backup SF on his way to getting squeezed out of the rotation. Chris Duarte and Colby Jones are the future. Kevin is the past, a trade candidate for OG and Jerami Grant.

The Warriors were ripe to be ran off the court last night, and would have had Duarte been available, yet  Kevin helped them right back into the game, just like he helped them to Round 2.

Kevin was 8 for 39 from 3s in the Playoffs. Let that sink in. That’s an 80% brick rate which he replicated last night (1 for 5).  How many of those 3s were wide open? The post mortem revolved around Kevin needing to be in better shape to run and gun.  Fair, but are we then to accept the time between the end of the regular season and start of the playoffs, and the additional days between playoff games was NOT enough for Kevin to have his legs under him?

Then there was all summer to transform and transcend, to come to camp leaner and meaner, perhaps with more burst, more of resolve and skill, using the bitter disappointment as fuel to new heights. Instead,  looks like the same dude.  

It was hilarious when Jason Anderson asked the coach about Hueter’s play and he responded “okay”. Okay is code word for “sucks” or diplomatic way of saying “trash”.

Now Kevin is in sulk mode. At best he’s apathetic. He’s confused.  Boo-hoo, I lost my starting job.  I am sensing a little too much “me, myself and I” from the Red Herring.

What is confusing about the consequences of missing 80% of your 3s, over 5 bricks per game,  in the biggest games of the season, and lacking the agility and anticipation to keep your man in front of you, get through screens,  take charges, then wonder why the coach does not exhibit endless loyalty and trust in you?

Do you know what would be confusing? Failure for there to be consequences and recourse given an appealing option worth the risk. That calculated risk is Chris Duarte, who probably reminds Christie of his former self, a two way fundamentally sound player who can regain and build upon his rookie season that had him bidding for the ROY.

Starting in Utah, start of the new season, the Duarte Era, how many possessions does Duarte’s speed up the opponent to do what they don’t want to do? I am eagerly anticipating this. To force into turnover or rushed shot. This is the secret sauce. to have a weapon like this in your first (Duarte) and second (Davion) unit.

The ability to harass PG, SG and SFs is not subject to a lot of  variance unlike, say, shot making.  With Duarte, you don’t have to worry about him getting shot happy or shot reluctant. He has  good discernment in this regard, not thirsty, but also not shy. He is really good in transition, complementing Fox, so he should be good for near 4-8 PPG just on fast break opportunities.

The appeal therefore is the consistency that Duarte projects to bring: versatile defense and leg speed vs the inconsistency of Kevin’s shooting.  Davion and Keegan expanding their offensive repertoire, more potency and effieciency, as on display last night, furthers makes Huerter  irrelevant.

When Sasha V has the ball on the wing, with space to operate, sometimes with a smaller defender, why does he not even look at the rim? He is playing hot potato on the perimeter instead of a jab step or an interior pass. He’s doing nothing to advance the offense, he looks scared to assert himself.
 
If Davions shot is butter, watch out league!  A devastating two way player is born. Davion needs to wear his hair in the high afro all season, this is the key to his emergence. Per my expert assessment, this will make all the difference, creating the illusion of a 6’2” player. His shot looks better, the spin and arc looks better. I suspect he was putting way too much arc on his shot. He was shooting a Moon Ball, which increased the margin for error.  

ATTENTION FANTASY PLAYERS:
Step 1: Sell your stock in Huerter, McBlunder and Sasha
Step2: Buy stock in Duerte, Jones, Keegan and Davion.
Step 3: Profit.