Friday, December 17, 2010

Geoff Petrie deserves a lot of the blame for the awful mess of a team

Okay, fans, this is the easiest quiz you'll have to take.

Which person in the Kings organization seems to go year-to-year and never absorb a hint of criticism, yet he hasn't presided over a winning team since 2005-06?

Which person has chosen loser coaches with the names Musselman, Theus and Westphal?

Which person has gained the rep as a draft genius but, during 2005-2007 when the Kings desperately needed to keep the momentum of the fading glory days alive, drafted the likes of Francisco Garcia, Quincy Douby and Spencer Hawes?

Which person hasn't made a team-changing trade since acquiring Brad Miller a decade ago?

What person has repeatedly given mid-level exceptions to hugely overrated stiffs like Mikki Moore? Yes, Mikki Moore.

Which person has been given a free pass from the fans for his cerebral approach, gentlemanly demeanor and subdued personality?

Which person has continually built teams with gaping holes and easy-to-spot weaknesses? Rebounding. Defense. Athleticism. The Kings haven't had any of those attributes in years and they still don't.

You know the guy, Kings fans.

And it's time he took the brunt of the blame for this gory mess of team.

Geoff Petrie, step right up and take a bow.

Because you've been awful.

That's right. Awful.

Look, there's no doubt the guy has financial constraints, but that's too easy an excuse for his dreary collection of innocuous moves over the past six seasons.

Petrie no longer collects winning pieces for a franchise anymore.

He simply collects a paycheck.

And that's not good enough.

Not for the Kings.

And not for the fans.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Well said, Ron.

From an obsessed-fan perspective, I'd compare Geoff's reign over the last 5 years to that of Axl Rose's Chinese Democracy.

For many of the 15 years leading up to the album's release, Guns N' Roses fanboys and music-lovers alike swore that Axl was just "one move away" from making the album that would save rock n' roll. They'd point to his past moments of genius while making plenty of excuses for his many apparent faults.

Anybody who dare mention that Axl was finished, career-wise, or that the unheard album wasn't any good, would be met with massive backlash. After all, how could you, "he's a proven genius, see, look what he did? He can do it again, just you wait!"

And wait...and wait...and wait we did...and ultimately, a stinker of an album was released. (Pessimists, cynics, and realists prevail once again!) And sadly, there are a few remaining Axl apologists still making excuses...waiting for his next big move that's just around the corner.

The point is, Petrie hasn't made a good move in years...nearly a decade as you pointed out. And let's be honest, before GP's moves in 1999, he wasn't exactly known as a remarkable GM (in fact, he had to be prodded by the owner to get off his arse and make some moves).

Nevertheless, Kings fans watch as newer, more aggressive and far more creative GMs make moves, while continuing to make excuses as to why Geoff has his thumb up his butt. Dare we call a spade a spade, because as you know:

"Just you wait, Geoff's saved this team before, he can do it again!"

And still...we wait...and wait...and wait...