The Sacramento Kings continued their half court work today. They couldn't stay out long after practice. Rookie center Hassan Whiteside was sent out twice to remind everyone of the 2:00 p.m. team meeting. Of course, the rookie was sent out.
The courts after practice were very active today.
Tyreke Evans, Pooh Jeter and coach Otis Hughley played around after practice, shooting left-handed free throws. Afterwards they played another free throw shooting game, where swishes were worth one point, made free throws that hit the rim didn't count and missed free throws took a point away.
Hughley has definitely been more than just DeMarcus Cousins' babysitter.
Omri Casspi and Antoine Wright were shooting three-pointers as usual, Landry shot free throws as coach Mario Elie watched and Samuel Dalembert and Jason Thompson worked on their post game with Truck Robinson.
Luther Head returned to the team today. He practiced shooting inside the arc with Jim Eyen and Pete Carill. Carill left to help with Dalembert and Thompson.
Head Coach Paul Westphal
What the Kings covered in practice today
"We're trying to keep increasing our focus and execution. We're going over our keys offensively so we can get into our sets and options efficiently. Defensively, (we're) working on our zone a little bit more and just working on continuing to work better together and to get our assignments covered and, in general, we just tried to fine tune both ends of the floor today.
We didn't go full court but we did a lot of five-on-five action, we did a lot of review of our principles and it was a good day."
About the team learning from the previous game against Minnesota
"That's always a part of a team's growth. It's okay to make mistakes if you're being aggressive but try not to make the same mistakes over and over. So, we try to focus on anything's that's gone wrong, not just when we played Minnesota but last game, the last few games.
"Anything we can do to shore up our mistakes are positive. Minnesota's a little bit different team than we played last time and it looks like (Luke) Ridnour is probably out and we're a different team because we've got Sam (Samuel Dalembert) and Tyreke (Evans) in. There isn't a complete correlation but there's a lot of the same players and same sets to deal with."
The approach on rebounding against Minnesota, the top rebounding team in the NBA (48.71 RPG)
"You do what you always do. You try to have the right people in place and play your fundamentals. Box out and go get the ball. No matter who you're playing against the answer's the same. You have to hit them first and go get the ball."
If Westphal unhappy with the team's switches on defense
"Our defense can continue to improve all the time. I don''t think there's one coach in the league who if you asked him if he's happy with his defense he's gonna say yes. That's why we're working on it.
"We're trying to get better on all the various situations and usually it comes from knowledge of what the other team is trying to do to you and then communication so that it's not just one player trying to stop a play it's our whole team trying to stop them. The better we communicate, the better chance we have of making them take tough shots."
On having a young team studying games
"I think with any team that's one of the hardest to get them to do."
Dalembert's progress with the team
"I think's Sam's getting into shape. It's hard when you miss as much time as he did to not only be in shape but to have your timing and be familiar with your new teammates and your responsibilities on offense and defense. It's still going to take him a while but he's looking more and more comfortable every day."
About Tyreke's jumper effecting his game
"He'll be illegal. When they're worried about his jump shot there will be absolutely no way to guard him. Right now, other teams (would) rather give it to him than give him a drive to the basket, but when it gets to the point where he shoots the ball at a high percentage from the outside he'll be one of the toughest match-ups in the league."
The consistency of Beno Udrih and Francisco Garcia
"Both of those players are veteran players who've been with us. Even though Cisco didn't play much he knows where his shots are supposed to come from and teammates look for him.
"Both Beno and Cisco are real versatile offensive players that allow you to plug other players around them and have the team function at a high efficiency."
Using zone defense
"There's a lot of good reasons for that. One is it can take teams out of a certain play. You might have a play you have a hard time defending. If you go to a zone it can change their offensive approach.
"It can break up the rythym for the other team, it can allows us to play a little bigger line-up and not be worried about some of our bigger guys having to chase players around the floor into positions they're unfamiliar defending. So, all those things play into it."
Using Jason Thompson as a small forward in a zone
"It's a big zone, it's still a mobile zone. It let's you defend quick players. That's one reason that we would play zone is when we have a big frontline in. Another reason is to protect smaller guards.
"You can keep your guard away from the basket, don't have them get posted up so easily and you keep the big guys don't closer to the basket where they don't have to chase perimeter players around. It can be an effective defense."
Player quotes
Jason Thompson on the importance of reading scouting reports
"I think it's real important. You don't know how crucial it can be by looking at film. Sometimes, you're just watching the college part just the plays of the team, but now, it's such a big difference in the NBA of talent and skill that you should learn certain guys tendencies of what they like to do..
JT on having a near miss with an elbow against Memphis
"It's crazy because if your elbow lands then it's a foul on them and I might have some type of injury or I might have a missing tooth or something like that. Maybe it was instinct, it was close. I was mad and I kind of let the referee know. Thank God I didn't get a tech."
Dalembert on how he can help the team
"I go out there and see what needs to be done. If a guy is giving us trouble, I switch and I guard him and I calm him down a little bit. At the same time, I'll be able to cut up the middle and be a force and be able to get easy, quick rebounds.
"I give it to Tyreke and let him have it in the open court, that's what we're trying to do."
Dalembert adductor muscle getting better
"I'm feeling much better every day. I keep stretching, I keep doing a lot of stuff so it should be much better out there, get my leg under me. Now, I'm really taking my time and get a feel for it and maximize the touch that I have down low to score and help the team win games."
Dalembert on the Kings' fan support
"I'm very amazed/The fans are 100 percent behind us no matter what. (Those are) some true fans."
The Kings will have a rematch of their season opener at home against Minnesota tomorrow night a 7 p.m.
Original Story:
http://crownedhoops.blogspot.com/2010...
