For two games in a row, Jimmer Fredette has received zero minutes. The Kings have won both of these games, and Isaiah Thomas -- the rookie playing ahead of Jimmer -- has been playing with extreme energy and confidence of late (despite the fact that Fredette has been shooting well over the past week or so).
Because of the lack of minutes for Jimmer, folks who follow the Kings because they are fans of Jimmer are mad. Because of the wins and Isaiah's exciting play, folks who -- like the bulk of Sactown Royalty members -- are Kings fans first and foremost don't mind the DNP-CDs so much. After the coaches we've dealt with over the past six years, Keith Smart looks like Red Auerbach. Extensive criticism at this point is difficult to summon.
As a Kings fan, I'm not upset that Jimmer isn't playing. I'm disappointed that we're a below-average club that took a four-year college player in the lottery yet can't get production out of him a quarter of the way into his rookie season. (Brandon Knight was supposed to the project pick. He's playing 32 minutes a game and has 20 starts. Jimmer's at 23 minutes with six starts and two DNPs.)
But this isn't the end of the story for Jimmer. Heck, it's not the end of the first chapter. We're a few pages in. We're just sussing out the characters and the general scene. Keith Smart hasn't written off Jimmer, the franchise hasn't written off Jimmer so there is no reason for us to write off Jimmer. Likewise, there is no reason for Jimmer fans to write off Smart or the Kings. We're just getting started. Things are in a state of fugue. Things will change. Give it time.
I do want to mention one quote from Ailene Voisin's Jimmer piece in today's paper.
"I never sat out an entire game before," [Fredette] admitted, "not even in high school, unless I was hurt or something. But I'm just trying to be a good teammate. I'll keep working and finding ways to get better."
Well, of course he hadn't. Neither had Donte Greene, Francisco Garcia, Travis Outlaw, Tyler Honeycutt, Isaiah Thomas, J.J. Hickson or Jason Thompson before they got to the NBA. That's why this is the top league in the world: everyone who plays in it has been a star at lower levels. Jimmer is an exceptional talent when compared to other college players -- that's why he went No. 10 in the draft. But he is not an exceptional talent when compared to the rest of the NBA. That's what he and his fans need to come to grips with: he's the same big fish, but instead of feasting in a pond filled with guppies, he's in a lake with fish his size and bigger.
Don't worry, he'll be back on the court. But it's not owed to him just because of his name.
11 recs | 236 comments
Good piece, but I will say this
The Kings NEED Jimmer as much as Jimmer needs the Kings. The starters are starting to find their groove together, but The bench looks as shallow as its been for a lack of scoring. With Hayes/Hickson/IT you can expect the defense to be solid but there’s just no scoring there and so whatever cushion the starters create inevitably evaporates (or if the starters are in a hole, it gets bigger). Jimmer has the ability to bring some desperately needed scoring there to at least keep pace with the other team while the starters rest. Instead of playing Outlaw or Garcia useless minutes I’d like to see Smart get creative with some three guard lineups off the bench to cover the backup SF spot to get Jimmer some minutes. The starters can’t keep all playing 40+ minutes a game without risking burnout and injury.
So whatever’s going through Smarts mind about Jimmer, I hope he gets over it soon. The Kings need him.
Scirocco - February 5, 2012 via mobile
The Kings need him to be the player you think he is capable of being, but they don't need the player he has actually been
Charlieb - February 5, 2012
Well thats not really true for the past two weeks or so
Before the DNP-CD’s, Jimmer was beginning to emerge as a legitimate offensive threat. Don’t forget that it was him, not IT, who was starting beside Reke when Thornton was injured.
When the bench gets in, they’re solid defensively, but just lack any kind of scoring threat. Thats why I would advocate giving Outlaw/Cisco’s minutes to Jimmer alongside IT and sliding Reke to the 3 as the backup. Basically, Smart can have his starters begin the game for a 7-8 minute long stretch. Then you have IT/Jimmer sub in for Thornton/Salmons to give those two a breather for maybe a 5 min long stretch, running IT/Jimmer/Reke at the 1/2/3. Then bring back Salmons/Thornton in for Reke/Jimmer and go IT/Thornton/Salmons for a 4-5 minute stretch giving Reke a breather. By the end of the half at the 2-3 minute mark, sub in Reke for IT and have your starters in to close it out. Smart can repeat this in the second half, but maybe give Reke a breather earlier in the 4th quarter so he can have his starters finish it out from the 6 minute mark until the end of the game.
That gives Reke about 38-39 min a night, Salmons/Thornton about 36 min a night, IT about 20 min, and Jimmer about 10-12 min. Numbers are rough estimates, but I think that gives the Kings a bit more punch offensively off the bench and keeps the starters fresh.
Scirocco - February 5, 2012
I don't want to see Jimmer and IT on the floor together at all.
That has been a disaster on defense every single time this year. It just doesn’t work.
rmgordon4 - February 5, 2012
Very true
SPTSJUNKIE - February 5, 2012
Defense
really does matter
rory_sayer - February 5, 2012
If what´s going through his mind is "how do we win games" I hope he never gets over it.
rubenho - February 5, 2012
No, the Kings don't NEED Jimmer
Jimmer was a high volume scorer in college and a lights out shooter. We could really use a lights out shooter who is comfortable and productive playing off the ball. This is what we hope Jimmer can become. But we also need this secondary player to be able to play defense, and I’m sorry, but even recovering from a broken foot as I am now, I wouldn’t be much worse on that end of the floor. The Kings don’t NEED Jimmer. He can develop into a useful player down the road, but he’ll never be a centerpiece of this or any other NBA team. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if I’m wrong.
rory_sayer - February 5, 2012
What is the rush?
Kings have a two game win streak.
I have no problem with Jimmer missing two games. If he does’t play in the next 15, maybe we can revisit.
chenp22 - February 5, 2012
If we win those 15 games I will have no problem whatsoever with him sitting.
rubenho - February 5, 2012
The rush is that Tyreke and Thornton are playing 40+ minutes a night
Thats opening them up for injuries and burnout as the compressed schedule begins to kick in again. We’ve been lucky that there haven’t been back-to-backs lately, but once they start again, we need our best players fresh. Jimmer is capable of at least spelling them for limited stretches so they don’t play 40+ minutes every night
Scirocco - February 5, 2012
I think the rest time between the recent games
also contributed to the extra playing time. As someone else mentioned, Smart probably took advantage of this to allow Evans and MT to build some extra chemistry.
markdog333 - February 5, 2012 via Android app
So.. Lets see how Smart distributes Tyrekes and Thornton's mins over the next 15 games.
chenp22 - February 5, 2012
So?
They played 40+ for a few games? What are you their mother? They still average less minutes a game then Lebron, Dwight, Kobe and other unnamed All-Stars who by the way are much older and play on teams with much deeper benches. However I do agree that our bench does need to improve. In a game as close as the last few games have been, your really going to put Jimmer out on the floor to lose it for us? Maybe PW would.
ridingthebench - February 5, 2012
He's been shooting well yet we have gotten no production from him
Which one is it Ziller?
Pdidd - February 5, 2012 via mobile
There are two ends of a basketball court right?
otis29 - February 5, 2012
That, and ...
… the ‘production’ comment was based on the full season to date.
Tom Ziller - February 5, 2012
Otis
You of course meant the defensive liability. However, you are aware, I am sure, that the Kings rank dead last for points against and rank 27th for shooting percentage against. So who on the Kings are not a defensive liability. I’m not defending Jimmer for his lack of defense. Just pointing out that the Kings are not a good defensive team.
Bill2 - February 5, 2012
Which makes his lack of defense even more of a problem
The Bulls might be able to hide him on the defensive end, but that’s not going to happen on this team.
Charlieb - February 5, 2012
Agree
Not to mention that team defense is every bit as important as man. Kings are still learning how to play it, but have looked better in stretches. Right now, Jimmer looks lost playing team D. As he gets better at it, I am sure his minutes will increase.
SPTSJUNKIE - February 5, 2012
There's a big difference
between being last because you give up 101 points a game and lose by ten on average while competing in a fair number of games vs giving up 110 a night and losing by 15.
rory_sayer - February 5, 2012
I'm glad you wrote this Ziller...
I am a lifelong Kings fan and a BYU undergrad. I was beyond stoked when the Kings took Jimmer cuz it meant I would continue to root for a guy that I watched many, many times in person light it up. That being said, basketball is a team sport. Teams win and lose, not individual players. The Kings seem to be finding their groove and I hope the upcoming road trip is a positive one. I also hope Jimmer can find his way back into the rotation. I’ve seen how hard this kid works and I know these last two DNP-CD’s are motivating him to work harder.
Go Kings! Keep improving and fighting Jimmer.
kwlarson - February 5, 2012
Nice balanced piece.
I don’t have a problem with Jimmer’s two DNP-CDs. Just a few weeks ago I was upset Smart was playing Jimmer so much when he wasn’t scoring and pulling Isaiah out of the game, when he was was bringing so much energy off the bench. So, Smart has reversed himself. As a coach he is still sorting out the players and getting the best combination on the floor to get a win.
There were high expectations when Jimmer was drafted and he hasn’t lived up to that hype, yet. Isaiah, being drafted so low came in with relatively low expectations. He has had to prove himself every minute he is on the floor to continue to get more. It has been the tale of two rookies.
I feel bad for Jimmer, but the team comes first. As you say, Aykis, this is not the end of the story of for him. It is interesting to see how Smart looks at and assesses his talent, juggling them around for the best fit. We have to remember, he didn’t have a say in the selection of any of the players, who were acquired through the draft or trade. He wasn’t the person with the so-called vision of how these parts were supposed to work together. These were the players he was dealt.
PW took more of a “throw the mud against the wall” approach and “see what sticks,” with his constant reshuffling of his rotations; while Smart appears to use more reasoning and purpose when he makes a change. He was handed the reins, only after the team was ready to fall off a cliff. After getting the team off that precipice, he needs to be given some slack, to allow him to get his bearings and move the team in the right direction.
Somewhere along the line, he will make a stop and bring Jimmer along for the ride.
Slam_Dunk - February 5, 2012
Egads, I'm sorry TZ. I thought Aykis wrote this. It is a well-written piece, regardless.
Slam_Dunk - February 5, 2012
You have no idea the Zillerbucks you will have to pay for this travesty... I fear for you.
iashwash - February 5, 2012
Nice knowing you Slam Dunk
SPTSJUNKIE - February 5, 2012
I'm not a fan of guys playing 40+ minutes a game consistently
It’s sustainable for a while, but eventually I think it’s going to catch up, especially under this seasons circumstances. For this reason alone I’d like to see Jimmer get at least 10 to 15 min a game, as long as he’s fairly consistent on offense, even know his defense is suspect.
These past two games have made it difficult to justify pulling Salmons, Reke, and Thorton because of their good play, and I still think IT2 has warranted the first call of the bench. I might be off the wagon here, but I believe Smart is trying to get the main core comfortable with each other backed with some wins before he introduces the rotation guys back into the mix.
IMO is more important right now that Tyreke and Thorton develop some chemistry. If it takes them playing together 40 minutes a game for a while at the expense of Jimmer, so be it.
But keep in mind injuries can happen at anytime, and it would really suck to have to call on Jimmer to step up if he hasnt gotten some minutes over an extended period of time.
Crocoduck - February 5, 2012 via mobile
In-Season Conditioning
It may be that Smart is using this patch to condition ’Reke and Cousins within the actual games since he had no training camp or earlier-season practices to do so.
After a week or two of ~40 to 40+ minute games, cutting them back to ~36 minutes yields better energy and decision-making within the lesser minutes due to their new-found lack of fatigue at those kinds of minutes and also opens up minutes for Jimmer and the rest of the bench with less pressure due to the better conditioning and (hopefully) more effective play of the key starters.
Pure theory, but given Smart’s tendency to look for any way to exploit any advantage, one that may make a world of sense.
EGKF - February 5, 2012
It is not pure theory; it follows along the lines of tapering.
Although tapering is generally done in endurance sports, the idea is still the same: Train hard then taper over a period to get a jump in performance.
What better way to train for basketball, than to play more minutes in an actual basketball game. I think you are probably right in your assessment of what Smart is doing.
Slam_Dunk - February 5, 2012
Jimmer fans vs. Kings fans
Jimmer fans have breathed some life into the Kings. Lets be honest here, when Jimmer was drafted there was so much hype tickets sales took off they couldnt keep his jersey on the shelves. For awhile it made Sacramento the talk of the NBA and got the media machine moving some.
Kings fans understand hype and understand rookies. We have seen hype and rookies before. We have seen players we thought should be starting first day or play decent minutes ride the bench hard. We have seen 18 year olds who threw their body all over the place diving, scrapping, fighting for every loose ball. We seen those players sit on the end of the bench and only get garbage time minutes. We have seen those players go to other teams and start and become franchise players.
Kings fans have seen raw talent. Dominic McGuire had a cup of coffee in Sacramento and while here we saw his potential and when we play GSW we cringe when he comes onto the court because we know that potential has matured and it now scares us. This is never more evident then with Gerald Wallace we know that he had mad potential and had true talent skill and athleticism. We still got love for him and cheer when his name is announced but when the game starts we love our Kings. Thats the most important thing for us Kings fans is our Kings.
We would all love to see Jimmer shoot 3’s from the time he steps off the bus draining them at an ungodly clip, we would love to see him cross fools over and hit pull up jumpers in their face. But right now we are winning and as Kings fan that have suffered for a long time we say let him sit and don’t screw with whats working.
1damutt - February 5, 2012
Making me nervous w/ your third paragraph
So are you predicting Jimmer will end up on another team and light us up whenever he comes to town?
SavageBeast - February 5, 2012
It scares me as well
but think of how much talent has come and gone through the doors that have come back to light us up time and time again. J Will, Gerald Wallace just to name a quick 2. now im not saying we shouldnt have let them go. What I am saying is that at that time we had to make the moves we did. Some players need more time to develope then others. IT is playing some serious Big time basketball. I think Jimmer will play here and there and then may be traded and then we wont hear from him for like a few seasons then all of a sudden he will be with some team that is coming on strong and be raining 3’s at our new SEC these things happen in sports.
1damutt - February 5, 2012
Interesting prediction
But I think I speak for most of us when I say that Dominick McGuire isn’t scaring anyone.
Crocoduck - February 5, 2012 via mobile
We also have Jimmer for 4 years on the cheap and he was a four year senior
So it he isn’t showing his potential by ~26, I won’t be as concerned about letting him go.
SPTSJUNKIE - February 5, 2012
When it comes to that sort of thing,
J-Will for Bibby improved the Kings, so that was a great move. W/Wallace, I was upset then & now w/leaving him available for the Bobcats to pick. His ability was easy to see & he should’ve been protected.
richie88 - February 5, 2012
that was what? ten years ago?
you can fill in the caption
betweentheeyes - February 5, 2012
As long as SF remains a whole it will be in the back of peoples minds
No one was crying foul when Peja was still here in all-star form. People forget how stacked we were and that we were making a championship push. The expansion draft makes it so you pretty much have to let some talent dangle out there.
sac_faithful - February 5, 2012
you are right
J-Will for Bibby did improve the Kings that still doesnt make what I was saying un-true. every time J-Will came to Sac. he torched us. For example, we can all see the potential talent in Hassan Whiteside but it is tough going for him to get court time. Hassan, and I hate to say this, may just be one of those players that we let go of and a few years from now is crushing it in the league. We come to understand that this is how things are, we as fans of sports have dealt with this before. But those that are new may not understand that and this may be there first time dealing with seeing their fav. player not getting playing time and then being traded. Perfect example my daughter is 17 and following Kings because of Jimmer she thinks he is cute. She has no clue to who Gerald Wallace is or J-Will is I have told her about them all but the only thing she cares about is 1) Jimmer is dreamy why isnt he playing 2) why hasnt such and such called her cell phone and 3) when am I going to buy her a car
1damutt - February 6, 2012
Lol
you sound like cowboyron’s relative in this post.
caseycheesecake - February 6, 2012
There is a difference between letting GW go
when we are one of the best teams in the league, and not recognizing young talent when we are cellar dwellers. If we got rid of Whiteside, Jimmer, or whoever and they ended up being great, I would have a problem with that. A coaches job is not only to win games, but to bring along young talent. When you are a sub .500 team there is no excuse for letting talent go. I feel the same way about Casspi, If he ends up being great and we dumped him for JJ and a first, that would be a FO failure, no two ways about it.
SavageBeast - February 6, 2012
Yes I do understand that there is a difference...But.....
When a player doesnt get playing time because he isnt as good as those ahead of him. And Gerald Wallace we lost bcause we didnt protect him in expansion draft we couldnt protect everybody. But lets say this To win now you have to trade “potential talent” for “proven commodity” so that means we have to trade away young talent. For example, Jimmer and Whiteside for Paul Pierce not a real trade thought just an example to get point across. Potential for proven.
We cant keep everybody, we can try to keep young talent and build through draft but that still means somebody has got to go. Lets say for example, just an example to get point across. You want to keep Jimmer (im all for that) and you want to keep Hassan but the problem is there is only so much room on the bench if we draft players then others have to go. Donte, Garcia or whatever. So you have to make those decisions. I was a big Get rid of K-Mart guy and I have to watch and bare witness to everytime we play them he hangs 30 on us and yet it seemed like he never produced for us.
1damutt - February 6, 2012
and down the rabbit hole we go
wallywagon11 - February 6, 2012
I sincerely hope you are in the privacy of your own home
while you’re baring witness.
hozr - February 6, 2012
We are 8 and fuckng 15
What are you talking about. We beat Portland who is a terrible road team and golden state who is just a terrible team. Dude we get blown out 75% of the time.
sacman - February 5, 2012
????????????
is this in response to what I said? if so im missing it?
1damutt - February 5, 2012
I think our record is just a generic response for people who disagree with something
You said that? Don’t you know we are 8 and 15?
Makes me laugh.
SavageBeast - February 5, 2012
Meh
I’m sure that matters to the Malindas, but I’m not sure how much that means to the fans around here. Frankly, it doesn’t mean anything to me.
section214 - February 5, 2012
Somehow I missed the "Malindas"
I know it´s been said lots of times, but where does the expression come from?
rubenho - February 5, 2012
You can blame autocorrect for the Malindas, in reference to the Maloofs.
It was funny as hell when it happened, and it stuck.
Wonderchild - February 5, 2012
I forget who
but someone posted a comment from their phone about the Maloofs and it autocorrected to the Malindas and it became an instant hit. Rise the hot hand…
Sacto_J - February 6, 2012
what I meant by that statement was
that I was trying to give credence to the new comer fan. hmmmm maybe credence not the right word.. I was trying to state that those fans that are just here for Jimmer or are new to being sports fans (kings) because they think Jimmer is cute or following hype have there place among us. That I am thankful for them for what they bring to the table. but as new fans they should understand what us KINGS fans have grown to understand .
Let me put it this way. If a 13 year old girl thinks Jimmer is cute and starts to follow the Kings I am saying thank you for buying tickets and buying his jersey we need that . On the other hand what you might not know as a 13 year old girl or boy that hasnt followed sports that dont get upset when you dont see Jimmer playing because these things happen. Not just on our Kings but in all sports. We as vetran fans of any sports really have dealt with this sort of thing before.
I hope that makes what i was trying to say clearer
1damutt - February 6, 2012
Two points
First, I think you’re making more out of Jimmer’s quote than it is. (Or maybe I’m just misinterpreting your interpretation.) When he talks about never sitting through a game, I don’t think he’s saying, “I’m so good I’ve never had to sit.” I think he’s saying, “It’s hard to sit through a game because I’ve never had to.”
It doesn’t matter if every NBA player never sat through a game in HS or college, it’s hard for any player to get a DNP-CD, And I would hope that any player who doesn’t get off the bench is hating every minute of it. I love Donte Greene as a person, but it’s always bugged me just a tiny bit how happy he seems to be sitting over there not playing. I want a guy dying to get on the floor—and working his butt off to make it happen.
Second, a lot of the people who hate Jimmer and wish we had picked someone else were basically saying his poor shooting proves he doesn’t belong in the NBA. I agree completely with this quote by B-Jax, who knows a little something about playing NBA guard.
It’s not that Jimmer doesn’t get his shot off fast enough, or that he is a choker, or whatever. This is not QD. I recognize Jimmer has a lot to learn, and needs to play with the fire and confidence of IT. I think sometimes he is so worried about looking selfish or not making mistakes, that he is too hesitant. But the Kings have a really nice stainless steel ratchet set in Jimmer and they need to stop using it as a hammer or a screwdriver.
If they start getting Jimmer open with picks and screens and getting him the ball at the right time. It will open up the entire floor. And Cousins and Evans are especially beastly when the defense is in disarray.
I think Jimmer needs to get on the phone with another Mormon athlete who struggled before finding his game, Steve Young.
SavageBeast - February 5, 2012
On the quote
I didn’t represent my feelings on it properly. I meant it more because it’s something Jimmer fans seem to latch onto a bit, like a sense of disbelief he’s getting DNPs. This was evident in a long comment in the recap thread. But yeah, I don’t fault him for the quote at all.
Tom Ziller - February 5, 2012
Yeah
Thought I might be reading you wrong. It’s one of those quotes that can be looked at two ways. But for all the complaining some Jimmer do, I don’t expect Jimmer to be saying complaining publicly about his lack of minutes.
SavageBeast - February 5, 2012
And this is why I have an editor
SavageBeast - February 5, 2012
It has had his moment and so has jimmer
It just works harder on the floor. His teammates trust him more. He may or may not be more effective. A lot of it’s moments have came in garbage time, or against shit teams, gs, Toronto. But when a guy gives it his all every time you put him on the floor he should get the minutes. Let’s not forget were one of the 5 worst teams in the league.
sacman - February 5, 2012
Anyone else read this in a Buffalo Bill accent?
Crocoduck - February 5, 2012 via mobile
Haha, the lower case "t" is really throwing me
lead_pipe - February 5, 2012
Me too
Maybe to simplify everything, we start calling Isaiah “it” and Jimmer “thing”, and find other monster/horror themed names for everyone else.
kinglet - February 5, 2012
Or
It is our precious! We loves It.
SavageBeast - February 5, 2012
This image really looks like a "Not sure if serious" image.
chenp22 - February 5, 2012
I'm so proud of this
feelgood - February 5, 2012
Very, very well done!
kinglet - February 5, 2012
Great work.
ResetSmith - February 5, 2012
Jimmer is the token white guy.
caseycheesecake - February 6, 2012
Isaiah is Mogwai
Widowwolf - February 5, 2012
Isn't "Mogwai" a species, not a character?
caseycheesecake - February 6, 2012
There can only be one Gizmo
wallywagon11 - February 6, 2012
So what…Isnt yeti a species and not a character. Yet thats what we called beno
Widowwolf - February 6, 2012
I thought Mogwai was a post rock band
Crocoduck - February 6, 2012
I count six teams worse than us.
jveezy - February 5, 2012
Thanks for some sanity
To rephrase a comment I made in one of the every-post-is-about-Jimmer threads:
The hyperventilating extremes of opinions on Jimmer are based on a perfect storm of: much publicized/hyped rookie; narrow but exciting skill set (shoots the lights out); still raw rookie; not yet NBA ready; unusual (for the NBA) clean-cut religious background; overdone expectations.
Thanks for reminding us that he’s a rookie who has played only 21 NBA games. After his first DNP, people think he is suddenly on the trade block, in the coach’s doghouse, and ready to be cut or traded for a 2080 2nd round pick. Either that, or he is the real rookie of the year who just needs better coaching or playing time to show what he can really do. When really, he is just a rookie that has the potential to someday be a good NBA player. That usually takes a few years to find out though.
kinglet - February 5, 2012
Can I just say...
Damn, I appreciate some intelligent conversation as it pertains to this team. Post game Facebook threads are so ignorant and unbearable… Refreshing to read opinions from fans who actually WATCH the games!
paleface - February 5, 2012 via mobile
"unbearable"
.. is the word for it.
henryclemente - February 5, 2012
Plain and simple
Jimmer needs to be more effective on the defensive end. He’ll get better, he has to or he’ll continue to get dnp’s. Look were the kings were probably gonna lose by 30 next game, so when jammer gets his next shot he needs to make the most of it.
sacman - February 5, 2012
Kings shouldve drafted Knight point blank
jadams12 - February 5, 2012
Yup
the trade was a bad idea, and so was drafting Jimmer. Knight should be a King.
rory_sayer - February 5, 2012
We fans are a fickel bunch. When we react we tend to overreact. It is part of the (purple) passion of being a fanboi. And we StR-ers are all fanbois to some extent.
When it comes to Jimmer, as TZ points out, the unity of our Kings team love starts to diverge for some. Placing Jimmer over team is an unwelcome place and bound to cause consternation for many.
Jimmer is a charismatic guy and IMO, if you listen to him interviewed you can’t help but like the guy. I would be willing to bet that any disappointment that Jimmer expresses is in himself not contributing not with the coaching staff. I think Jimmer wants to help the Kings win and places that above his need to please the JimmerJihadis™ (sims). I would like to see the rookies play and play alot as this team is mired in lower third of the League (and I have made my points about the draft ad nauseum).
The talent is there. His opportunity will come.
betweentheeyes - February 5, 2012
If you look at the last few games in which either JF or IT have played, they appear to be even
offensively. Neither turns the ball over excessively nor do they rack up many assists. And neither has been much of a scorer except for one break-out game each when given extended minutes due to Thorton’s absence. I still think IT is a defensive liability given his size and JF can improve defensively through experience. I still think JF will be a prolific scorer in the NBA over time. IT’s career will be that of a back up PG who will play for several teams before all is said and done.
Natomaser - February 5, 2012
I actually think IT is the second best guard defensively on our team. Yes, behind Evans and ahead of everyone else. Liability because he’s short, but I feel like his height is balanced out by his effort, acuity and athletic prowess.
Jimmer has miles to go before he’ll be as good as IT defensively.
Offensively, I’d give the nod to Jimmer on scoring ability alone, but IT has the quickness to make his own shot, whereas Jimmer seems to have more trouble creating clean looks for himself.
Charles L. Pierro - February 6, 2012
I think Isaiah is third behind Garcia- We use him a lot as SF but he really should be playing SG
Widowwolf - February 6, 2012
Great post.
We desperately needed to shorten our rotation, and Jimmer was playing matador defense, despite improving shooting. This is why Outlaw gets minutes: Smart seems to respond to guys who play hard, have a great attitude, and play both sides of the game. If any one of those factors is missing, their minutes drop and they don’t get the same looks.
It’s one thing if we are deep in the depth chart on a position, but until Jimmer begins expanding his game and stops looking so frenetic out there, we need to stick with confident, scrappy guys. Thus why IT is getting tons of time right now.
KevinSalvadori - February 5, 2012
Why did we desperately need to shorten our rotation?
I don’t buy that at all. We need to not play players who are not playing well, (Outlaw, Outlaw, Outlaw), but a solid, deep rotation is awesome if you have it. Especially in this shortened schedule. You can’t play play guys 40 games a minute every night.
SavageBeast - February 5, 2012
To me, this makes total sense in baseball, but in basketball, I prefer to see as many active roster players as possible have playing time
ExPFCWintergreen - February 5, 2012
I think in any sport
You give your best players the most minutes (as is reasonably possible with fatigue concerns). No point in playing guys who just aren’t as good, just to say you played them.
otis29 - February 5, 2012
True
But one of the best things about the Glory Year Kings was their strong bench depth. If you can rest your starters and not drop off too badly, it makes your starters that much better at the end of the game when they need to step it up. We don’t need to shorten our rotation as much as we need to strengthen our bench.
SavageBeast - February 6, 2012
Disagree about Keith Smart.
Smart does NOT reward hard work or effort. The guy talks a smooth game but is simply the type of coach who plays favorites and has strong bias against players he dislikes or doesn’t click with.
I followed the Warriors last season because of Jeremy Lin. He played his ass off every small chance he got, and played well in his short stints, yet Keith Smart continually played scrub Acie Law heavy minutes while benching Lin most of the season although Lin was superior in every statistical category. It is known that Acie was one of Smart’s boys and even thanked his coach publicly for giving him a job last season.
A few months later and look how Lin is now suddenly exploding in New York simply because he was given a shot.
The fact Jimmer played well for a 4 game stretch then was completely DNPed shows me he is giving Jimmer the Lin treatment. If Jimmer was an unknown like Lin without the huge hype/fanbase I doubt he’d play him AT ALL, would just give him DNP after DNP the rest of the season. The only reason he’s giving him any minutes currently is most likely because he has to at some point due to pressure from fans/ownership.
pcjkim - February 7, 2012
Sorry
I’m not overwhelmed by Lin’s 135 minutes played this season.
otis29 - February 7, 2012
...in D'Antoni's system
section214 - February 7, 2012
Elephant in the room
Brandon Knight and Kemba Walker – who I liked best – were sitting right there for the taking and Petrie made a horrible trade down so that we could get Salmons and still have the ability to draft Jimmer. The trade was viewed negatively at the time and that view has not changed since then (although Salmons has been decent the past 2 games). Jimmer is who he is – a shooter who is a major liability on the defensive end – and everyone knew this before the draft. Seems Petrie, undoubtedly under pressure from the Maloofs, went with the hype/flash over taking the better overall NBA player. Very bad mistake, IMO.
Unless Jimmer learns to play PG like Steve Nash (i.e. do just enough on the defensive end to get by and be super crafty on the offensive end), I don’t see how makes it as this level.
CrimeD - February 5, 2012
Brandon Knight numbers are not all that impressive
Especially considering the amount of playing time he is getting. And he has looked absolutely horrid the last three games. Don’t think he will ever amount to much. Kemba, maybe. But neither or them has proven anything yet.
SavageBeast - February 5, 2012
Just look on Kemba
On a very weak Bobcats team, he is averaging:
12pts, 3.6 assists, 2.6 t/o, and is shooting 36% from the field in 28 minutes per game,
Wow, how did GP pass on that?
SavageBeast - February 5, 2012
So are you saying you like Jimmer over both of them?
Those were the people available, unless you wanted Biyombo. Yes, those are his stats so far this year, but I would bet those numbers improve over the year. I watched their game last night – he looked pretty good. He is a better NBA player than Jimmer right now and I do not think it’s even an argument.
CrimeD - February 5, 2012
I wouldn 't be too quick to judge any of these young players, especially Knight
Walker was a junior and Jimmer a senior, Walker was a sophmore so he’s about a year or two behind these guys.
And, in spite of minutes, he wouldn’t be getting them here, playing behind Tyreke & Marcus.
HighTops - February 5, 2012
That's exactly what I am saying
It’s way, way too early to decide one is better than the other. My guess is the Kings felt the same way, which is why they didn’t mind dropping a couple of spots. None of the three have shown they are a long term starter in the NBA. But none of them have proven to be busts either.
SavageBeast - February 5, 2012
I agree that it's still too early to make final judgements
And I hope Jimmer turns it around. But, IMO, the most important thing for young players to show is confidence and a swagger that says “This is the same game as before – I belong here”. Jimmer has not shown that level of confidence. You can tell Kemba knows he belongs in the league when you watch him play.
CrimeD - February 5, 2012
I think it's way too early to judge
Kemba was given the ability to come in and go crazy from the get go, Jimmer was asked to adapt his game.
Kemba, Knight, Biymobo, Leonard, etc. might all turn out to be better, but it’s just way to early to make any call on that.
SPTSJUNKIE - February 5, 2012
And should we even put Jimmer's stats up here?
Ok, lets do it for comparison.
8.6 pts, 2 asts, 1 rb, 1.5 TO, and shooting the same 36% in 23 mpg.
PER 9.93 vs. 14.55 for Kemba. You also forgot to add the 1.1 steals and 4 boards for Kemba.
CrimeD - February 5, 2012
So what we can
deduce is that none of them is blowing the doors off their respective careers. Possibly because all of them are dealing with no off-season training and minimal practice. Never said Jimmer was looking amazing, yet. Only that it is way too soon to say GP was dumb for not taking Kemba or Knight.
SavageBeast - February 5, 2012
I can say it
He should have taken Kemba or Knight
Forget about the stats. When you watch Jimmer on the court he looks lost. For a 4 year college player that is a concern for me.
I’m not saying Jimmer won’t make it in the league. I think he will but the JJ Reddick comparisons are looking more & more accurate right now.
Allbenji - February 5, 2012 via mobile
You may be right
But just think it’s too early.
Both Kemba and Knight are in situations where they are running the team and have carte blanche to do whatever they would like. So of course they look more comfortable, they are in the same role as college. Jimmer has been trying to adapt from his style of play in college to fit into a team with several other players ahead of him in the pecking order.
Ultimately, I think Jimmer splits the difference between Curry & Reddick. He’s a much better passer and better at doing things off the dribble than Reddick was at this stage.
SPTSJUNKIE - February 5, 2012
Albenji, do you have on of these? Me neither. Let's use the retrospectoscope in four years and discuss this again
betweentheeyes - February 5, 2012
Lol. My retroscope is awesome
It tells me the Blazers should have picked Durant instead of Oden and that the Kings should avoid world peace at all costs.
SPTSJUNKIE - February 5, 2012
Mine tells me I should have convinced my Dad to invest $10,000 in Berkshire Hathaway in my name when I was 8 years old
betweentheeyes - February 5, 2012
Mine says "buy Apple at $12 a share"
lead_pipe - February 5, 2012
Blue balls..yeah I got 2 of em..i am married
Widowwolf - February 5, 2012
I was thinking the same thing, JIMMER traded to Utah and Sloan comes back.
I think Sloan would come back to Utah in a new york minute if he knew they had a chance of getting Jimmer. Face it playing in Utah you have advantages, you get the calls and sloans offense with the pick and roll, its built for Jimmer. He’s done it a few times on the foor with cuz and the spacing the D gave up was obvious. Jimmer knows Utah is his ace in the hole. Sloan seems open to reconcile by an article i read yesterday.
rbk84 - February 5, 2012
Now Jimmer has the power to heal Jerry Sloan?
Okie dokie.
section214 - February 5, 2012
Duh.
caseycheesecake - February 6, 2012
well yeah if Sloan or the Jazz franchise were all insane
Not a knock on Jimmer, just that no way would they welcome that kind of situation with that fanbase unless the player is the next MJ.
wallywagon11 - February 5, 2012
I love the Heart that
IT shows every night, but i feel Jimmer is one of those players who needs a season and some change to get the Lay of the Land, and he will be just like Steph Curry……I just think he needs some time that’s all
shadowchicken - February 5, 2012
Interesting comparison to Curry
Curry was one GS Warrior who had issues w/Smart. Seems Smart kept benching Curry for bad D and Curry didn’t like it.
Tisbee - February 5, 2012
This article is just fine
However, I don’t agree that comparing brandon knights minutes has any relevance to jimmers status. Brandon knight has not been good and wouldn’t be sniffing 32 minutes a game with the kings.
lchristmas - February 5, 2012 via mobile
Exactly!
SavageBeast - February 5, 2012
Still, he's been a little better than Jimmer in a much larger role, while playing most of his minutes against opposing starters
It’s still really early, but Knight has been a little bit less disappointing so far.
Charlieb - February 5, 2012
Knight or Kemba,
wouldn’t even be beating out IT either.
caseycheesecake - February 6, 2012
haven't watched Kemba in awhile
but Knight might be just now turning it around a bit
wallywagon11 - February 6, 2012
and the kid can certaintly shoot
wallywagon11 - February 6, 2012
If Thornton keeps making bone head plays like leaving Klay when GS needed a three
Jimmer is going to see a lot more minutes. Right now, Smart is putting in new offensive plays and defensive rotations. As Jimmer gets comfortable with the new system his minutes will increase. But, there is no law that says he has to get minutes now, even Martin got DNP’s in his rookie season.
As for Knight getting more minutes than Jimmer, not on this team he wouldn’t. And, his numbers don’t indicate that he should be getting them in Charlotte either. Of course, having Augustine hurt kind of inflated his PT.
HighTops - February 5, 2012
Jimmer, Thornton and IT all competing for the same minutes....it seems
I am very sceptical of Jimmer ever being anything more than maybe JJ Redick type, more likely a 6th man. Perhpas he will grow and change, but definitely questioning Petrie with this pick. (Couldn’t the Kings have taken Lenard?) Too many potential issues, and the Kings now have Thornton and IT playing better than Jimmer. Jimmer’s talents would be perfectly suited to play next to Reke. Thornton, who is quite the scorer, does not ever give up the ball. And I’d put my money on IT turning into a better player than Jimmer. We shall see…….. Nice work TZ
amonk81 - February 5, 2012
comparing jimmer to redick is asinine
Jimmer is a point guard who creates off the dribble. Redick ran around screens his entire college career. Two completely different players.
se7en - February 5, 2012
When you look at the drafting of Jimmer you need to look at the state of the Kings at the end of last season
Tyreke still hadn’t stepped up his game enough to be the PG we needed. Thornton may never be an assist man. It was obvious that somewhere along the way we needed to find a starting PG. Under Smart, Tyreke is beginning to fill that role.
But, with a full preseason, rookie summer league, and some preseason games under PW, Jimmer could very well be our starting PG right now. Just like the starting PF spot was supposed to go to Hayes. Guys supprise you, and things change.
With 2 ball dominant guards who can play the SG, the Kings might only need Jimmer to be Tyreke’s sidekick, like Fisher is to Kobe. The one thing that Jimmer has going for him right now is time. With Thornton under a long term deal and Tyreke soon to follow, Jimmer just needs to work on his ball handling and playmaking. I think all of our guards are going to benefit from being taught and coached by Coach Smart. Jimmer is still far below his ceiling as are most NBA rookies.
HighTops - February 5, 2012
well said
Jimmer seems to be caught at times by the player he thinks he should be or what the franchise has guided him to be (a pass first PG) and what he has always been (a put the team on my back scorer). I am with you, HT – I expect him to figure it out.
The last season perspective reminder is helpful – Thornton wasn’t signed, Reke had an off year from his plantar fasciitis, IT wasn’t even a thought and of the draft picks available, Jimmer had the advantage of being a 4 year player – he added youthful experience and specifically maturity (that thing that DMC was particularly in short supply of). I am confident that the Jimmer situation will work itself out.
betweentheeyes - February 5, 2012
I've often thought the same:
I grew up a Bulls fan, before California beckoned, and I see similarities in style between Tyreke and MJ — not saying Tyreke is anywhere close to MJ or ever will be, but they are both very ball dominant guards who don’t need a classic point guard partner. Steve Kerr and John Paxson were both the perfect fit for MJ in that regard. People forget that MJ averaged 5+ assists per game, often more than double his “point guard”.
kinglet - February 5, 2012
BJ Mitchell too.
It’s not a bad point.
ResetSmith - February 5, 2012
Armstrong?
betweentheeyes - February 5, 2012
Yes, I think he meant BJ Armstrong
who averaged 3-4 assists as MJs “point guard”
kinglet - February 5, 2012
I respect your opinion
But I disagree. I do not see Jimmer ever being out starting PG. You mention he needs to work on his ball handling and play making. How about his defense and rebounding too? Essentially he has nothing going for him except his shot. We already had a Jimmer in Kevin Martin, except K-Mart was taller, could get to the line, proved that he can score in the NBA and knew how to pass. And we pissed K-Mart away cause he was a defensive liability. Now we are going to try and convert Jimmer into our new starting PG? And have MT23 sit on the bench? I hope I am wrong about Jimmer, but I just don’t see it happening.
ridingthebench - February 5, 2012
And that isn't a knock on Jimmer.
I think he could end up being a good role player, spot up shooter off the bench.
ridingthebench - February 5, 2012
wrong
ANyone that knows JImmer knows that he is not just a spot up shooter. Lets hope the kings dont think of him as just that other wise they are trying to make him into something he isnt.
mmarcum - February 6, 2012
Which is why I am glad they aren't putting him in there for just 3 minutes here and there
I’d rather see him try to run the offense if he is coming into the game for an extended stretch and get a few DNPs here an there then come in every single game and only play one short stint in the game.
wallywagon11 - February 6, 2012
He hasn’t proved otherwise in the nba. That has been the big question about jimmer predraft… does his college game translate to the nba? People already talking about jimmer taking mt23’s spot.
ridingthebench - February 6, 2012 via mobile
Don't think I agree with the implied distinction between "Jimmer" fans and "Kings" fans
I am a Kings fan through and through, but I also feel like Jimmer needs to be playing, now. I don’t agree with riding Thornton and Tyreke for 40+ minutes a night, and while Jimmer’s defense hasn’t been great, he also hasn’t been getting killed either (as opposed to, say, Thornton last night no matter who he was covering). Just when he seemed to have been gaining confidence in his offense you bench him completely?
I know we’re all hungry for wins and some positive outcomes after the crap of the last few seasons, but I don’t think these rotations are positive for the long haul. Too many minutes for Reke and Thornton, and short term gain at the expense of developing Jimmer, who is extremely important to the Kings’ future.
Two DNP-CDs aren’t going to kill him, but if you’re not playing him against the Warriors who are you playing him against?
nbrans - February 5, 2012
I'm not concerned in the least bit
We had almost no practice time when Smart first took over, and now that he has time he’s making major changes. Both to running and defending Fast Breaks, interior defense and rotations, and we’re seeing them implement plays like that first lay-up by Salmons at the beginning of the GS game. Some players are going to pick up the changes quicker, and even if they don’t, the coach probably wants to get his starters more experience before we hit the big road trip.
So, I don’t believe this DNP is a long term issue or one that will stunt Jimmers career. but, for now, I trust Coach Smarts judgement, and expect that Jimmer’s minutes will come when the matchups are right and/or he shows an understanding of the changes Smart is implementing.
HighTops - February 5, 2012
Agreed
Smart needs to get the main core set before he can add the frosting that is Jimmer
PurpleHurts - February 5, 2012
It's funny you make the frosting
comparison, I was trying to think of how Jimmer is going to fit into this offense. I really see him coming off the bench and using his shooting to stretch out the floor. the problem with that is, i don’t see any good coming out of a Jimmer/Thomas backcourt (since Thomas has been the primary relief of the backcourt.) Can anyone think of any good combo’s in the backcourt with Jimmer? IE:
Reke/Jimmer
Thornton/Jimmer
Salmons/Jimmer(…)
fffindeed - February 5, 2012
I think there could be several workable combinations that would let Fredette fit into the Kings offense. I think that others, including both players and coaches, need to find a way to integrate his talents into the mix when he is on the court. My least favorite combination is Fredette/Evans. But I think that IT and Thornton would work nicely with Fredette, especially since we are only talking relatively limited minutes
ExPFCWintergreen - February 5, 2012
I think you are going at it wrong.
I don’t think the other guard matters. You rest Evans/Thornton and bring in Jimmer. Then you play the inside out game with DMC crashing the paint and kicking it out the Jimmer for 3s.
I can see the issue defensively with the guards and it just depends on matchups. If the other teams goes small then have IT in at PG. If they go big then slide Salmons or Garcia over to SG.
For me the trick to keep attacking the paint when MT and Tyreke sit. The teams doesn’t do that and should. It is the greatest strength the Kings have and playing the inside out game would totally use Jimmer’s shooting best.
CowbellKings - February 5, 2012
I see your point.
Ultimately it shall come down to who matches up the best (which is of course the best way to go)
this is my only quarrel is when they sit our ability to attack the basket is taken away (from the guard position) making our objective obvious to any coach.Jimmer (at least for now) makes us fairly one dimensional. as he lacks the ability (at this time) to drive to the basket . From what i have seen as soon as he gets to the paint he realizes he’s not where he should be and tries to make a play ending in something…. well you get it.
fffindeed - February 5, 2012
+1
6 minutes per half isn’t too much to ask for.
caseycheesecake - February 6, 2012
I don't see why it has to be every single game
but yes at the same time can certaintly understand wanting to see those kind of minutes for him and for him not to be sitting 2 weeks at a time between games.
wallywagon11 - February 6, 2012
At least we can see that Smart
has a belief system, can express why he does things, and seems to have a direction and goals for this team and its players. This is refreshing in the wake of the PW years. He seems to clearly set expectations for everyone and then hold them accountable. If Jimmer isn’t meeting the expectations that Smart has laid out for him then he needs to sit. That is how accountability becomes valued within a team. Also, there are different standards for different players, John Salmons is a proven “pro” and deserves a much longer leash than a rookie. Tyreke and Thornton and even IT are providing different things that Smart values over Jimmer’s shooting ability. Jimmer looks kind of ridiculous when he looks at the bench like a clueless 6th grade boy after making a mistake. This happens all the time, and is reason enough to bench him if it’s been addressed, is indicative of deeper maturity issues, and has not changed. Jimmer has potential, I enjoy watching him shoot the ball, and I watch youtube clips of his highlights at BYU and with the Kings more often than a grown man should…but he has to grow up and take responsibility for his career and realize that being “Jimmer” isn’t as important as doing anything and everything he can do to help his team on both ends of the floor, from the bench, and in the locker room. Shouldn’t be too hard to figure out, IT took Jimmer’s minutes by following this very formula. Here is hoping that Jimmer comes out this with a little more “f* you” and a little less “who / why me” attitude.
Kingstime - February 5, 2012
Excellent post. Agree 100%
And I badly wanted Salmons to be benched. Whoops. (Don’t know what woke him up but I’m loving the effort.)
blknblu - February 5, 2012
This is good so long as everyone is held to account.
ExPFCWintergreen - February 5, 2012
feel for jimmer
He’s not a pg yet, just a small 2
dinnertim - February 5, 2012 via mobile
How does Jimmer not find minutes...
when Coach rolls out an IT, Thornton, Outlaw, Hayes, Hickson that fails to score for 5:30 in the 4th?
Sacramental - February 5, 2012
well, considering that lineup played a grand total of 1:30 seconds together
it’s probably because this is make believe.
Oh and they scored 2 points.
Now, I will say that we did completely squander the beginning of the fourth but it wasn’t this lineup but the five guys who all played the entire 3rd quarter but none were subbed out to start the 4th.
wallywagon11 - February 5, 2012
sorry 1 minute and 30 seconds together
wallywagon11 - February 5, 2012
Still...
The Kings couldn’t score for half of a quarter and decided to not put a scorer on the floor? What I want to know is why Jimmer is in the doghouse with Donte’ and a couple D-Leaguers? It’s just bizarro.
Sacramental - February 5, 2012 via mobile
simple, decided to play the starters a shit ton
wallywagon11 - February 5, 2012
Cause he wanted to win the game
CowbellKings - February 5, 2012
regardless of whether it's IT, Jimmer, or Garcia
I wouldn’t mind a few subs in the backcourt a little earlier in the 4th
wallywagon11 - February 5, 2012
actually who am I kidding
would like to see Jimmer two spots of around 6 minutes at least in a game here and there. Granted not upset about the two recent DNPs though.
wallywagon11 - February 5, 2012
I would like to see him make it on the floor.
He needs to commit to defense and bust his butt at it. I mean our bench stinks it up BAD. They can’t score to save their life. If they can get Jimmer up to any sort of defensive proficiency level it would be great. They do need the scoring, but when he costs as many or more points due to bad defense as he makes in points it isn’t going to happen..
CowbellKings - February 5, 2012
I disagree
he needs to commit to what he does well and shoot lights out.
Obviously he’ll need to work on PG duties and defense, but he’s not going to earn any minutes by doing what he doesn’t do.
caseycheesecake - February 6, 2012
trying to do what he can’t do*
caseycheesecake - February 6, 2012
This assumes too much
You are assuming he can’t play defense or so it seems. Being a rookie I just don’t think we know what his ceiling is defensively in the NBA.
CowbellKings - February 6, 2012
His ceiling or his cellar
otis29 - February 6, 2012
I'm not really upset about it...
More “worried”, I guess? I thought Jimmer was playing well before he disappeared out of the rotation.
Smart has also been saying he wanted the starters to be in better “condition”, which is a good reason to play them extended minutes. Bench guys can always come in in spurts and put it all out there.
Sacramental - February 5, 2012
A NINE point lead going into the forth quarter evaporated by GS's bench, oh Love those Kings
Another game that should have been a blowout, lost opportunities to showcase dominance while pussyfooting with lineup. Not IT fan just because of one block and an obvious bias from his teamates towards him as opposed to Jimmer. To say JF isn’t as effective as IT shows your shortsighted. Ferdette will become like his hero John Stockton except with a deadly Jump Shot. Stockton wasn’t tearing up the league when he was drafted. He had to build that Rep. Jimmer won’t be in a Kings uniform long, you can’t keep all of the guards on the kings team. Need to trade to update lineup. Jimmer will not play in a Kings uniform after his Rookie commitment is over. He will remember this and IT will be with team minus either REKE or CUZ because of contracts. Thats the reality, Jimmer can wait it out because time is on his side.
rbk84 - February 6, 2012
LOL
otis29 - February 6, 2012
section214 - February 6, 2012
So, can Jimmer take Nate Robinson? The Warriors second unit guard?
He would have to have been able to guard him one on one and no, he can’t do that. And that’s the reality of why IT got more burn rather than Jimmer.
Nate is a handful for anybody so this is not a complete negative on Jimmer. Matchup-wise you have to go with IT there.
CowbellKings - February 6, 2012
this is the greatest thing I have ever read
wallywagon11 - February 6, 2012
Hypocrisy is hypocrisy despite the apparent effort at rhetoric
Discussion of accountability only has relevance if it is uniformly applied with consistency to all player personnel. This is hardly the case for the Sacramento Kings. The Kings players (by and large) have been unquestionably selfish in their orientation until very recently. Let’s give Smart some modicum of credit for engendering a modest improvement in the level of narcisstic investment of the average King player. Jimmer is benched for his weaknesses while players who make repeated judgemental errors are lauded with additional player time…Salmons “sticky finger black hole planet swallowing shoot ahon”, Tyreke’s one versus 3 or 4 isolation fest, Marcus Thorton’s I have never seen a shot that I truly didn’t appreciate orientation to team offense, and let’s not forget that Demarcus Cousin’s gem when he launched a 3 point bomb from the corner because – well – that’s clearly his strength.
Please – accountability is an afterthought on the Kings – but is now being applied with zeal in the case of Jimmer Fredette? Bad management. However, it is a correctable mistake. But is it a mistake that coaching personal have any desire to remedy?
Realistically – Jimmer has limitations at this level of basketball. He isn’t a great defender. He is small. He isn’t a natural point guard (at least – not yet). He probably doesn’t deserve to start on the Kings this season and it remains to be seen whether he ever deserves to start on the Kings. But, he is a fanatastic shooter, he is crafty with the basketball, he can drive the lane and distribute under the right circumstances, and he can play passable defense when matched up appropriately. He deserves time on the court – he needs time on the court – he can help the Kings by being used properly on the court.
He is also interesting, charismatic, and good for business. Bad for business to bench him in this fashion. Short sighted. Yet, somehow predictable in terms of the vibe observed on the court. Odd.
UpandUnder - February 5, 2012
What hypocrisy?
Jimmer is held accountable for his shortcomings, because unlike Reke, his shortcomings are serious enough that they prevent him from contributing as much on the court as the other guards on the team. If Jimmer was playing basketball as well as Reke, Thornton, or Thomas, he would be playing. But he isn’t, so he’s not.
Charlieb - February 5, 2012
Living in a land of ideals?
It must ne nice to live in a world of principles, equitable treatment, and judicious decision making? However, this is not the world I’m voyeuristcally peering into.
There is a reason the Kings have barely been watcheable this season – it it has as much to do with Fredette’s collective teamates as it does to any shortcomings of Fredette as a player. There have been cringeworthy moments of abundance. Mistakes here, mistakes there, mistakes everywhere.
Point being – all players on the Kings have strengths and limitations. This is not limited to Fredette. Yet, he has been benched for all intents and purposes which deviates significantly from the previous course of action set by Westphal and by Smart to a far more limited extent.
Thomas has been playing well – but he has his own limitations – he is really undersized. He will not be able to compensate for that on all occcasions. Does that mean he doesn’t have value? No, clearly Thomas has value to the Kings and can play a role. He brings energy and he brings play making and some shooting ability. I am not convinced he is lock down defender however.
Thorton scores well but he is selfish in terms of his playmaking for his teamates. He eigther doesn’t see or chose to see his teamates, at times, on the court. He still has considerable value to the Kings in terms of his offense. Should he be benched for his poor playmaking? No. Should be play more than 40 minutes a night for his offense? No. If Smart’s reasoning were uniformly applied he would bench Thortan for his poor playmaking. But, that would be dumb. That wouldn’t make sense. That would be an overreaction.
Tyreke doesn’t shoot the ball well. He penetrates well. He handles the ball well. He is a good scorer. He is not a good facilitator. Should be benched for his poor facilitation skills and his poor shooting stroke. Surely not – but if you were to apply Smart’s reasoning he would and should be benched. But, that isn’t going to happen. That wouldn’t be the prudent thing to do.
So, that leaves Fredette – exempt from criticism – obviously not. Above reproach – obviously not. His weaknesses are defense and finishing around the basket. His shooting strengths are better than his teamates. His playmaking is better than most of his teamates with perhaps the exception of Thomas. But, the difference is that he is being benched. So, the question is why are Fredette’s limitations so disagreeable to Smart but the limitations of many of teamates – which are disagreeable in their own right to the casual viewer – acceptable to the point of playing guys in excess of 40 minutes a night?
A fair question. A question that the media needs to ask Smart. A question that Smart should answer. His answer should then be appraised.
UpandUnder - February 5, 2012
To answer your question
Jimmer’s defensive deficits are not made up for by his offensive pluses. Every players has negatives, but Smart can live with offensive deficits from his role players if they defend.
Jimmer does not defend well enough. They can’t typically hide that and match up with other teams. So, Jimmer is going to get less playing time until he steps up his defense.
It really is just that simple.
CowbellKings - February 5, 2012
You write well
And your points are well verbalized. Rec’d.
As for the decision making of Coach Smart – I have a hard time believing his intent is to submerge Jimmer Fredette to the bench until he withers into insignificance and is forgotten….
It makes poor sense from a variety of angles – specifically, from a front office and ownership view. The Kings invested a first round draft pick in Jimmer with the belief and expectation that he will be a stalwart addition to the team. They need to give him a chance to do so. With 44 games left they are running out of time so it will happen sooner rather than later. Shortcomings or not. Jimmer is not Alex Smith and even that worked out (eventually).
betweentheeyes - February 5, 2012
I completely agree with your analysis. One thing is certain, however: the media will NEVER ask Smart any questions on this. Smart is a smooth talker, just like PW. We will see if his coaching is better. I certainly hope so.
ExPFCWintergreen - February 5, 2012
I haven't said anything overly idealistic, so what are you even talking about?
The simple explanation to the question you’d like the media to make Smart answer is that Jimmer has sat on the bench because he isn’t playing basketball as well as the three guys ahead of him in the rotation. Of course the other guys on the team have weaknesses. All players do. But it’s hard to argue that a guy that’s shooting 36% from the field should be given playing time, despite his weaknesses, because he’s a lights out shooter.
I think Jimmer should be getting more minutes for the sake of growth, but he’s not playing well enough to say that he deserves them over Reke, Thornton, or Thomas. I suspect Jimmer will play again soon, but if he doesn’t, I doubt it’s for whatever sinister reasons you are implying.
Charlieb - February 6, 2012
respectfully disagree
I don’t think that the benching of Fredette has anything to do with “accountability,” because many players do things for which they are never held accountable in the least.
ExPFCWintergreen - February 5, 2012
Well, putting aside your memeish diagnosis of our players
Smart is first and foremost a defensive coach. That was his MO. That’s why Nelson originally brought him to Golden State as his “defensive coordinator.”
My best guess for why Jimmer is getting benched is his complete inability to play man or team D. Smart is not yanking players over every little error and has done a great job developing the team. Evans & Cousins in particular have been much better.
However, I wouldn’t take this as Smart disciplining Jimmer for some small mistake and then not equally punishing the rest of the team. This is Smart being a defensive coach and allotting playing time to players who are playing good defense (while also giving some consideration to their offensive abilities).
SPTSJUNKIE - February 5, 2012
I disagree and think that UpandUnder has it right
I thought it was interesting that Smart made a special point to verbally dress down Fredette the other night after he got stood up on an offensive sequence, and that we haven’t seen him play one second ever since. It almost seems as if the verbal reprimand for that error was orchestrated. How else can this be explained? Other members of the team do this same thing on a regular basis, and I am not talking just about Evans. Just last night IT ran into traffic and coughed up the ball, yet he continued to play without so much as a dirty look from Smart.
There simply is no reasonable justification for benching a top rookie prospect like Fredette on a sub par team like the Kings. Even if it is “just” for 2 consecutive games. If he was on the Thunder or the Bulls, I could understand. I don’t think this is about waiting to give him more practice time in the off season or some other BS emanating from the coaching staff.
ExPFCWintergreen - February 5, 2012
I think you are over thinking it.
Tyreke, MT23, Salmons have been playing well during the last 2 DNP-CD games for Jimmer. IT has been playing at a higher level then Jimmer on a more consistent basis. So explain to me during a close game why you would put Jimmer in? The guy has given up more points then baskets/assists made. Giving up more points I mean….
1. Poor decision making with the ball that resulted in turnovers.
2. Getting killed on Defense. Losing his man.
3. Missing open shots.
4. Attempting to draw a foul which ended up being a fast break for the other team.
5. Terrible passing.
Anybody who has watched the game can clearly see he is our worst Guard right now. Other players have been guilty of the same to a lesser degree. Salmons has played rather terriible before these last few games and has been pulled out in the 4th quarter at times which gave Jimmer his opportunity to shine. He did not. If Salmons got a DNP-CD nobody would say shit. We have Jimmer for another 4 years… lets not get bent out of shape for 2 DNP.
ridingthebench - February 5, 2012
you may be right about the over-thinking part.
ExPFCWintergreen - February 5, 2012
Yeah. There is no conspiracy. Makes no sense for Smart
Occam’s razor, that the simplest answer is usually the best, is the best way to go here.
Smart has nothing to gain by not playing Jimmer, if Jimmer is helping the team. He doesn’t hate him. He doesn’t gain credibility in the organization.
Smart likes D. Jimmer doesn’t play it. I believe Jimmer will get back into the rotation. so far Smart has been a good mentor and teacher to Evans, Cousins, IT, etc. So I’ll give him some leeway here.
SPTSJUNKIE - February 5, 2012
Yeah, I don't think it's personal
It is in Smart’s best interests, as a head coach with no guarantees of employment beyond this season, to win games. If Smart feels Fredette is his best option to win games, he’ll be out there.
Now, that’s not to say I agree with Smart’s decision to bench Fredette. The kid had been playing the best basketball of his career in the week prior to the DNP-CDs. He could have found a handful of minutes in either game to use him.
otis29 - February 6, 2012
Agree. Hope is gets back in soon.
Right now I feel like a judge in a court movie where the good lawyer is doing something mildly wacky.
And the opposing lawyer screams “I object” and the judge says “I’ll allow it, I want to see where this is going, but [good lawyer] this better be going somewhere quickly.”
SPTSJUNKIE - February 6, 2012
ridingthebench..
How can you say hes missing open shots when hes shooting the best on the team currently? As for his turnovers IT is just as bad as well as other players.Some of those weaknesses you pointed out are not weaknesses at all.
mmarcum - February 6, 2012
He's not shooting best on the team currently
From three, sure. Overall, not even close.
otis29 - February 6, 2012
Even then
His shooting is not the problem.
mmarcum - February 6, 2012
No, his outside shot has been great
Like I said to someone earlier.
Occam’s Razor: Smart is a defensive coach. He’s playing our best defensive lineups with some consideration for offense (e.g. Cousins over Hayes). Jimmer is our worst defensive player. Sometimes these things are not the Da Vinnci code.
SPTSJUNKIE - February 6, 2012
I have to disagree about Jimmer being the worst defensive player. did you see the shotchart o the Denver Game.
It was a party in the lane with some many shot attempts near the basket. This was done by Guards as well as Bigs. Our defense sucks PERIOD we just went to overtime with a team we had a NINE point lead on going into the 4th quarter. We blew said lead with our starters against their bench and went into overtime. Those are the facts. You can’t play players 40 min games. There are no KOBE’s on this team. The bench is very important to the success or failure of this team To not use a weapon like Jimmer, is like leaving an unfired bullet in your gun in a gunfight. Good to know its there but its not effective not being used.
rbk84 - February 6, 2012
Jimmer's PER against
At the one: 20.4
At the two: 20.4
Overall defensive rating: 113
Isaiah Thomas’s PER against: 10.4 at the one, no minutes at the two, overall D-Rating of 111
Evans’ PER against: 15.7 at the one, 18.0 at the two, overall D-Rating of 109
Thornton’s PER against: 14.6 at the two, overall D-Rating of 111
It’s not even close. He’s the worst defensive backcourt player on the team.
otis29 - February 6, 2012
Well researched
SPTSJUNKIE - February 6, 2012
Very clever bankershours...
Crocoduck - February 6, 2012
Offensively, you have a point about Jimmer
However, when defense is a problem and you have a defensive coach, guess who gets benched? The worst defensive player. That’s Jimmer. end of story. And our defense has been better in stretches the last two games.
Yes, the Denver game was a total team travesty. But one game does not a season make. Quite simply, our team is better at D when Jimmer is not in the game. That is a face, backed both by statistics and observations.
It’s fixable though. I still have a lot of faith in Jimmer. And he can bring a lot to our bench offense as you pointed out, so I hope Smart’s lessons get through to him ASAP.
SPTSJUNKIE - February 6, 2012
With you
I still like Jimmer, but it’s going to be up to him to figure it out defensively.
otis29 - February 6, 2012
Perhaps they are trying to work a deal
And they want to preserve a healthy Jimmer that is shooting something like 60% on his threes from his last four games. They dont want to play him right now sonce he looks golden right now. It doesn’t make sense otherwise. Unless he got under somebody’s skin with the missed three point attempt at the closing seconds of Kings Jazz. The other posters that I have read are absolutely correct. It is ridiculous to punish Jimmer for poor defense when you had games where records were set for most points in the paint by an opposing team. It clearly says that the whole team plays bad D.
Poodytang - February 6, 2012
It's actually pretty simple
Jimmer is currently a SG. He hasn’t yet shown the leadership, decsion making ability, and floor awareness to be anything but a stopgap at the PG. Our rotation is pretty shallow at PG, but there are a plethora of Kings that can play SG. With MT out and Salmons playing badly, Jimmer got some burn at the SG; but in the last couple of games, his current abilities were irrelevant.
Give him a season to get used to the team and the NBA pace. He will learn the skills he needs to be an effective PG, he just doesn’t have much to contribute to the team right now.
polotown - February 6, 2012
Polarizing
People freaked when I mentioned jimmer was a “polarizing” figure. After reading the wide range of feelings from love to hate I think it’s safe to say it’s true
Pdidd - February 6, 2012
A quick scan of the comments
and I see more comments that are reasoned and rational (needs to play better defense, still learning, raw rookie, rookies need a few years to see how they develop, shows potential at times, etc.) than the love/hate stuff. Sure, there are plenty of people posting who are responding emotionally rather than rationally, but then that’s been the same with other rookies the last few years (SHawes, Tyreke (NaPG/tradehim/neverlearns/ROY/greatestever), JT, DMC). If anything, the majority here agrees with Ziller’s balanced approach (“good piece”, “I’m glad you wrote this Ziller”, “nice balanced piece”, “thanks for some sanity”, “this article is just fine”, “balanced post”, “great post”, etc.)
kinglet - February 6, 2012
He's averaging 9 points a game and shooting 36%
And his defense is atrocious, and we are asking why he isn’t playing?
He will get some burn, but 23 minutes a game is more than he deserves at this point, particularly if our two starting guards are healthy and Thomas continues to play well and bring the team needed energy.
NewEraKings - February 6, 2012
I dont think
the argument is about him getting 23 minutes of playing time, but getting any playing time.
mmarcum - February 6, 2012
That's on the season. He was shooting 65% from three over five games before getting benched
dethtruk - February 6, 2012
Jimmer should see plenty of minutes tonight against NO.
caseycheesecake - February 6, 2012
NO has half their team in the infirmary
wallywagon11 - February 6, 2012
That's Jimmer's defensive assignment
lock down the infirmary.
Kfan in Korea - February 6, 2012
Are you crazy?!?
He heal everyone!
section214 - February 6, 2012
LMAO!
CowbellKings - February 6, 2012
I think it's fucking bullshit that IT gets to play his position from college
And yet Jimmer doesn’t simply because IT is so fucking small he can’t do shit at the 2. So basically because IT is undersized for even HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL, Jimmer is relegated to playing the 2, a position he doesn’t really know shit about.
Personally, I think Smart has done WONDERS for players like DMC and Evans (loving the way those two are playing lately), but the handling of Jimmer has just been a huge clustercuss.
I realize that Smart is a defensively minded coach, and that Jimmer FOR SURE needs to get his ass down and play some Smart defense (pun intended), but the fact of the matter is that you had a guy who was moving upward and making things happen and then you pull him? I know that basketball minded people aren’t necessarily known for their management prowess, but this is just human resource management 101: don’t kill someone’s confidence when they’re just starting to get it back.
In summation, I really think that they need to knock this shit off of forcing Jimmer to play the 2 and get him burn at the 1 and stop with the pussy footing with him in there and let him play his game.
herehere - February 6, 2012
I thought his game was shooting the ball?
What’d I miss in the analysis leading up to the draft?
The two is the spot he’s going to need to play in the NBA, I think that’s becoming pretty clear.
And I wouldn’t dismiss Isaiah so easily. He’s showing aptitude at both ends of the court. Jimmer isn’t, at this point. Simple.
otis29 - February 6, 2012
I've watched every bit of Jimmer that I could leading up to the draft
And honestly the guy did way more for BYU than just “shoot the ball”. He got steals, assists, and ran the offense like a pro. And sure, you can make the argument “well yeah he ran the offense HE WAS THE OFFENSE”, but the fact of the matter is he has good vision of the court, an extremely high basketball IQ and has been given no opportunity to excel whatsoever thus far.
And while I enjoy the energy that IT plays with, his defense is only alright and his shooting has been more up and down than a rollercoaster.
My frustration over the IT vs Jimmer thing, is that if you’re gonna bring in a guy with the skills to play the 1 (yes, jimmer IS a decent passer AND smart player), but stick him at the 2 and expect him to defend some of the most athletic guys on the other team, that’s just a recipe for disaster. Let the kid play his position, which is what SHOULD have happened from the start.
herehere - February 6, 2012
He's been equally bad defefding the 1 or 2
Crocoduck - February 6, 2012
Uhh
When was the last time he defended the 1?
That’s an honest question…
herehere - February 6, 2012
Fixed
otis29 - February 6, 2012
And according to 82games.com
He’s played 34% of the team’s minutes at the PG position. At either position, he’s been a tremendous defensive liability.
otis29 - February 6, 2012
Link
http://www.82games.com/1112/11SAC2.HTM
otis29 - February 6, 2012
Isaiah's shooting has been up and down
Yet he’s third on the squad in TS%, Jimmer’s 7th. Someone’s a bit more of a rollercoaster than Isaiah.
And all those steals and assists must not have shown up in the stats.
otis29 - February 6, 2012
It's kind of the same dynamic
of when you are a feared defensive back and they won’t even throw at you, so the other DB gets the stats. Other guys get the steals because a team won’t dare go near Fredette on defense.
section214 - February 6, 2012
Science!
otis29 - February 6, 2012
Smart's job is not to kill the confidence of 12-14 guys
But there are only so many minutes to go around, and he’s trying to put the guys on the floor that he thinks will win games, not “move forward” and “let him play his game.” It’s a team, not The Jimmer Show.
NewEraKings - February 6, 2012
I saw that movie, "The Jimmer Show"
Very little dialog, 70s music, and… well… the rest is not PG rated.
CowbellKings - February 6, 2012
543% increase in merchandise sales thanks to Jimmermania
There’s a lot of new season ticket holders thanks to Jimmer. For a guy that was shooting 65% from three over the previous 5 games it seems like the DNPs are extreme to say the least. Sure, he needs to improve his D, but Smart’s not even going to throw him out there for a last second shot at the end of a quarter, or anything? Seems like Smart runs the risk of jading Jimmer fans with DNPs and the Kings could potentially lose a significant amount of newfound attendance over that. Of course winning is more important than Jimmer, but if they stop winning and Jimmer’s still sitting…
dethtruk - February 6, 2012
Where are you getting your #’s there
Widowwolf - February 6, 2012
source of the numbers for merchandise
http://bayarea.sbnation.com/sacramento-kings/2011/12/31/2672947/jimmer-fredette-sacramento-kings-jersey-sales
“Kings merchandise sales, according to CNBC, is up 540 percent from December of last year. Three-quarters of the increase is due to the presence of Fredette.”
dethtruk - February 6, 2012
Its 540% for 1 month…lets see January #’s
…Hmmmm no coincidence that they say its for December and that’s when the league started playing..Bet you they got more sales in a usual September then in December most other years..
Widowwolf - February 6, 2012
Two questions -
How/why does merchandise sales translate to season ticket sales, and
Why does/should that matter? Are you saying that a team should play a less effective but more popular player over a more effective but less popular player? Because I don’t agree with that at all.
section214 - February 6, 2012
like I said...
“Of course winning is more important than Jimmer, but if they stop winning and Jimmer’s still sitting…”
dethtruk - February 6, 2012
after the kings drafted Jimmer they sold more season tickets
the first few days of availability than they sold for the entire previous year. Hard to find more specifics on the numbers than that though. Maybe it was just a quick spike. Seems like significant cash, but I could be wrong.
http://www.abqjournal.com/sports/2011/06/26/jimmer-gives-kings-more-than-glimmer-of-hope.html
dethtruk - February 6, 2012
I don't recall that
I do recall a spike in season ticket sales after it was confirmed that the Kings were staying another season.
The Kings averaged 13,890 last year, and are averaging 14,481 this year. This represents an increase of 4%, but does not break down the difference between season and game day seats. My guess is that any claims that Fredette has significantly increased season ticket sales is wildly overrated.
section214 - February 6, 2012
That and shortened season = less money for season tickets
Widowwolf - February 6, 2012
I dont agree either
ask any kid who is riding pine and is better then the starter because the starter is coaches son. I think we all have been there and we have all hated it.
And didnt Smart let Jimmer take the last shot in Utah? How did that turn out?
1damutt - February 6, 2012
Not talking about game winners, talking more about garbage time.
dethtruk - February 6, 2012
Jimmer is like Mark Price and Steve Kerr
Mark Price’s game is so much like Jimmers and he did pretty well in the NBA so did Steve Kerr and both were defensive liabilities. Last i looked the teams with the Top D hasn’t won any titles recently. Balanced Teams win championships in this era. The Mavs that defensive juggernaught are champs. NBA needs players like Jimmer to offset the knuckleheads that dominate the league. Even if he’s on the floor for 6 mins it validates that the league cares about its image. As for the one dementional game Jimmer has, Rodman just went into the hall for rebounding and Defense but not and offensive threat at the least. Curt Rambis was a starter on the Lakers for christ sake. His contrbution was minimal on the offensive end. There are numerous examples of one dimetional players in the NBA. Jason Kidd just learned how to hit a three 15 yrs into his career, but that did’nt stop his effectivness in other areas of the game. Jimmer was your starter while Thorton was hurt an IT came off the bench. Thorton’s back and the natural process would be Jimmer off the bench then IT. If Jimmer was such a liability on D, would’nt you think the reverse would happen. IT starts in thorton’s place and then Jimmer off the bench. It just seems like a benching to me, and if it is coach should man up and say so, because the way it went down seems a little funky.
rbk84 - February 6, 2012
I consider this the "Is The Spaghetti Done?" method of debate
Just keep throwing random weak arguments at the wall and hope one of them sticks.
otis29 - February 6, 2012
NO Just saying this may not be the right fit for Jimmer.
If Smart was coach last year and not coach after PW firing he would have looked for and drafted a player suited for his type of play. Something tells me Jimmer would not have been in the conversation, but you are the coach of Jimmer and he lack the qualities you look for in building your team. So you get what you want as a coach by benching the player, and the player is at the mercy of the coach who trys to force the player to play his way knowing all along its futile because its a system problem. , I know its early but i think its open for discussion if Jimmer is the right fit for a defensive oriented team like Smarts building. Thats not a knock on either side of the argument but a thing that happens often in the NBA.
rbk84 - February 6, 2012
Also know as "The Kitchen Sink" method
wallywagon11 - February 6, 2012
Jimmer was acquired for his defense??
Without question, I know that I tuned in with regularity to watch Jimmer’s defensive stops when he played for BYU – oh wait – I didn’t. I tuned in to watch him shoot the basketball.
Presumably, the Kings’ acquisition of Jimmer had a great deal to do with the excitement of his offensive production, his long range shooting stroke, and his overall marketability to an international audience.
So, if the argumentation suggests that it is the philosophical position of Smart that only players with defensive capability receive playing time on his squad then Smart’s position is directly at odds with management’s decision to acquire Fredette. A precarious position for Smart to say the least.
But, frankly I’m a lot incredulous that Smart’s philosophical position is that of a “defensive minded” coach when he originally stated that he “didn’t know what the team’s idenity was” followed closely by a desire to foster “a run and gun style of team”. Somewhat convenient that he has arrived at the “defense first” mentality that clearly leaves Fredette and nobody else on the team out of the rotation.
It’s a moot point. A portion of the fan base is irritated. Not a good move. However, realisticaly I would be satisfied if the team brings Fredette along slowly and he receives some playing time coming off the bench. I’ll pay money to see him be aggressive offensively and shooting the basketball as “instant offense” 6th or 7th man. “I’ll pay money” being the statement that brings about a change with this impasse.
UpandUnder - February 6, 2012
You say "defensive minded" as if it's at the expense of a coherent offensive scheme
I don’t think it’s precarious at all for Smart to emphasize defense. The Kings of the early 2000’s didn’t become a true championship contender until they started playing defense. And very few of those guys individually could be considered upper-tier defensive players. Turns out they were very good offensive players (for the most part) who had the ability to learn to play defense as a unit.
Jimmer obviously has some skills on the offensive end of the court. He’ll play more when he’s not a complete liability on the defensive side.
And the fan base that spends money just to see Jimmer – well, who cares? The team didn’t hesitate to trade Omri Casspi, and he was a draw.
Winning games is the ultimate drawing card in Sacramento.
otis29 - February 6, 2012
What is this I don't even
What Jimmer needs now, more than anything, is confidence. Defence, better floaters, etc. will all take years to develop. However, confidence can make a difference right now, and that is what Jimmer has struggled with the most this season. Anyone who saw Jimmer from the last few games compared to the rest of the season can see the difference. While statistics should be taken into account, they only tell half the story, especially with a rookie. He was just starting to gain his confidence, and then he gets two DNP-CPs? What better way to kill someone’s confidence than bench him after he’s playing his best basketball of the season?
It is the coach’s job to not only win games, but to develop young talent. However, these two jobs don’t have to contradict each other. It would be ridiculous to believe that Jimmer does not have the current ability to contribute in any way to the team. In my opinion, his recent jump in performance proves he can be a valuable role player at the present, not just in the future. Jimmer warrants the minutes through his play alone, not by virtue of being Jimmer. You guys keep making this into a Jimmer vs Kings argument when it’s not.
Also, it’s hard for me to believe that Jimmer can go from first one off the bench and 23 minutes a game to DNP-CP in the space of a few games simply because of "matchups" or because Coach Smart is leaning toward a "defensive emphasis". There’s definitely more to it than that.
Delicious Blanket - February 6, 2012
Economics doesn't matter?
The NBA is economics. Of course, it matters. It probably matters too much. Jimmer is a draw. I want to see him play. I don’t want to see him on the bench.
Look. Smart treats some players in one fashion and Jimmer in another. Usually, a double standard is underscored by a particular believe system or ideology. I don’t know what his belief system or ideology is. I do know that it is unhelpful for Jimmer’s development.
Smart is not the coach for Jimmer – that much is clear. So, he probably needs a change of venue. In the interim, he can get as much coaching as he can from the assistant coaches and trainers associated with the team – and take in what information is useful from Smart.
Ten minutes of playing time is better than 0 minutes. It does appear that the Kings don’t need Fredette at the moment. They are getting good play from Thomas and it appears that Smart isn’t interested in giving any time from Thorton or Tyreke to Fredette. So, Fredette is out of the loop. Not surprising.
He’ll just need to work hard on his game in the off season and get his agent to look around the league for a good coach/player fit and a team that needs his skill set. Right now his skill set is outside shooting. A J.J. Barea, Allen Iverson type of player who can shoot, is undersized, and has enough of handle to get to the basket. He could be more than this in time. Keep working.
UpandUnder - February 7, 2012
With all due respect,
your comments smack of a Jimmer fan and not a Kings fan. And that’s OK, except that you’re probably not going to get a lot of traction on a Kings board. These comments would likely be warmly received on a Jimmer board, though.
I find it laughable that the Kings should consider playing Fredette because of his so-called box office appeal. The thought that a player should vault better performing players because of his popularity is counter-intuitive – for every fan that now buys a ticket to see Jimmer, the fans that want to see the best players play will turn away.
I also find this notion that Fredette should be dealt completely ludicrous. Based on his overall play, the Kings would not receive value equal to the #10 pick that they spent on him, and since they really aren’t paying him that much by NBA standards ($2.2m, prorated this year and $2.4m next year), they have no great need to move him. He’s two dozen games into his NBA career – why in the hell would they consider selling him low right now? No, the only people calling for a trade are the Jimmer jockeys. Unfortunately for the Jimmermaniacs, the Kings are going to make their decisions based on what they think is best for the franchise, and not for Jimmer’s ardent fan base.
Here’s a novel idea – Fredette hones his game and finds a way to earn minutes and make a contribution. He approaches this opportunity as though he were a #60 pick with no long term guarantee and no rabid followers behind him. He looks at the squad that he is on, takes a team approach, and figures out a way to make a contribution when he is called upon, understanding that the minutes are never guaranteed and that he has to be ready at a moments notice to take advantage of his opportunity. But I guess that I’m just dreaming – players like that don’t really exist…
I like Fredette and I think that he can develop into a solid NBA pro. Heck, I’m a Kings fan and the franchise just spent their pick on him, so I’m pulling hard for him. And it’s still very, very early in his NBA career. But the ball, as they say, is in his court. It’s up to him to find a way to pump up his value. He is owed no more than Isaiah Thomas or Tyler Honeycutt. If anything, given the fact that the Kings have more invested in Jimmer, Fredette owes the franchise.
section214 - February 7, 2012
I still don't see a double standard
Smart expects his guys to produce defensively. Jimmer is the worst defensive player on the team. And he’s extremely one-dimensional – he can shoot the three at a decent clip, that’s it, that’s all.
And I don’t see how Smart isn’t the coach for Jimmer. If the expectations are too difficult for Jimmer with Keith Smart as his coach, I reckon he’ll go the way of Adam Morrison before long. And I don’t believe that for a second.
Have patience, grasshopper.
otis29 - February 7, 2012
Jimmer just isn't that good of an NBA player yet
Rooks only get burn in the NBA if they provide a missing attribute to the team or they are potential all-star talent. As for all-stars, DMC will be an all-star; Reke may become one. That’s pretty much it for the Kings roster.
IT has gotten time because he has the necessary attributes of a PG, a position that the Kings need, and he immediately changes the pace when he comes on the court, something the Kings were missing from their bench.
Jimmer has a good shot, a valuable attribute, but one that many other Kings players also have without the defensive weakness. Additionally, while he was a good college player, he has shown nothing that indicates he will be an all-star in the NBA.
Just because he doesn’t look like an all-star, doesn’t keep him from becoming a solid role player and having an excellent NBA career. He has the brains and talent to figure out how to use his best attributes, and disguise his weaknesses. That takes some time. I have confidence that he will figure it out, but he isn’t there yet.
polotown - February 7, 2012
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