Is it a coincidence that the Kings moved the ball better in the final five minutes of Sunday night's victory over the Suns without Tyreke Evans on the court.
No, didn't think so.
Suddenly, without Evans on the floor, the Kings managed to quickly get into their offense and, lo and behold, didn't seem to force any passes.
Incredibly, in the span of a dramatic week, rookie DeMarcus Cousins has become the focal point of the offense. He was a revelation against the Suns.
Cousins sees the court. He makes the right pass almost every time. Yes, sometimes he forces his shot a bit too much, but he's improving every game. If you can keep him from tossing a Molotov cocktail into his future, he could be the real deal.
It's completely different for Evans.
He simply does not help the Kings when he's on the floor. Sure, he can score in bursts on occasion, but he has become more of a hindrance to the team's cohesiveness. You can blame the aching feet for some of his woes, but you can't blame the feet for his awful decision making and his inability to figure out how to be a team player.
So here's a sinful thought to consider: What if the Kings entertained trade offers for Evans?
Okay, forget I just wrote that.
Then again, maybe not.
ESPN reported on Sunday that teams are inquiring about the availability of Omri Casspi. The Kings would be foolish to deal Casspi. He might have more upside than any player on the team.
But Evans? What about Evans?
Desperate times demand desperate measures.
They could surely land some ripe talent for him. Maybe a first-class point guard.
No, it's silly. Why would the Kings trade Evans?
Guy was rookie of the year. You don't trade him.
Forget I wrote that. He's only going to get better, right? Right? Right?
Look, Evans have been terribly mishandled by the Kings. They plugged his square abilities into the round hole of point guard and handed him the keys to the franchise.
Now, you watch him on the court and he sometimes looks lost. Paul Westphal hardly ever puts him in position to utilize his talents properly. And no matter how much we hear about his improved outside shot, it's just not there. Never has been.
It comes down to this: What would make the Kings a better team? A healthy Tyreke Evans or a top-notch point guard?
We saw a little hint in the final five minutes against the Suns -- and Pooh Jeter ain't even close to a top-notch point guard.
All right, I'm just a knee-jerk observer offering a silly thought based on small sampling of time.
Forget I wrote that.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Pathetic excuse for an NBA team
Way to build on the momentum of that thriller against the Grizzlies.
Uninspiring.
Selfish.
Lousy basketball.
The Kings are far and away the worst team in the NBA.
Not even worth posting about.
Uninspiring.
Selfish.
Lousy basketball.
The Kings are far and away the worst team in the NBA.
Not even worth posting about.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Was that a little swagger I saw?
With just under a minute left in Wednesday night's ridiculous 100-98 victory over Memphis, DeMarcus Cousins decided to gather his teammates together for a little huddle.
It was a small gesture in the scheme of things, but it struck me as a turning point.
Here was the NBA's rookie bad boy, explosively unhinged, a player benched because of immaturity - yet he was gathering his teammates to offer something the team so obviously lacks.
A dose of swagger.
Now Cousins is all about swagger. Usually misguided swagger. A selfish swagger. But this was different. This was Cousins feeling the swagger and wanting it to be a part of something bigger.
It's strange. Just from watching, you knew. From that moment, the Kings would win the game.
The players on the bench were energized. The crowd was electric. And suddenly there was confidence.
Even O.J. Mayo's impossible basket with 2 seconds left wasn't going to change the outcome.
What does it all mean?
Who the hell knows.
Tyreke Evans' 50-foot prayer with 1/10th of a second to play could be just the medicine to heal the deep, dark wounds this team has suffered.
And maybe not.
Maybe it was just a blip.
Maybe it all means nothing.
But I'm not sure. Swagger is the ultimate commodity in basketball. Once you get it, you learn to love it. And then you learn to love winning.
For one night, the players tasted the rare sweetness of a righteous win.
Let's see where it goes.
It was a small gesture in the scheme of things, but it struck me as a turning point.
Here was the NBA's rookie bad boy, explosively unhinged, a player benched because of immaturity - yet he was gathering his teammates to offer something the team so obviously lacks.
A dose of swagger.
Now Cousins is all about swagger. Usually misguided swagger. A selfish swagger. But this was different. This was Cousins feeling the swagger and wanting it to be a part of something bigger.
It's strange. Just from watching, you knew. From that moment, the Kings would win the game.
The players on the bench were energized. The crowd was electric. And suddenly there was confidence.
Even O.J. Mayo's impossible basket with 2 seconds left wasn't going to change the outcome.
What does it all mean?
Who the hell knows.
Tyreke Evans' 50-foot prayer with 1/10th of a second to play could be just the medicine to heal the deep, dark wounds this team has suffered.
And maybe not.
Maybe it was just a blip.
Maybe it all means nothing.
But I'm not sure. Swagger is the ultimate commodity in basketball. Once you get it, you learn to love it. And then you learn to love winning.
For one night, the players tasted the rare sweetness of a righteous win.
Let's see where it goes.
Where have I heard this before?
From ESPN's Chad Ford when asked in a chat: What's wrong with the Kings? So much talent with so little results? Coaching?
"Not as much talent as you think. No chemistry. Way overrated front office. Evans and Cousins are good individual players, not great team players. Rest of the supporting cast has a few solid players like Landry, Casspi ... but not much else to be excited about. I know lots of people love Geoff Petrie, but I don't get what they're so excited about. Team has been terrible for a while. You're supposed to get great players with very high draft picks. Rest of his moves are pretty questionable. Since the roster has already essentially been blown up ... might be time for changes at the top."
Geoff Petrie has been exposed and the league knows it. I've always kind of wondered why Geoff Petrie wasn't pursued by other teams if his reputation was so good. Wouldn't another team throw wads of cash at him if he was a genius? But there's been not a whisper of interest in Petrie over the past 10 years.
No surprise. He ain't a genius.
Here's an even more damning fact: David Kahn, who has garned a reputation as a complete buffoon as general manager of the Timberwolves, is making Petrie look like a hack this year.
Kahn gambled on Miami's Michael Beasley and it paid off big. He chose Wes Johnson over DeMarcus Cousins in the draft and that's looking like a brilliant move. He's got Ricky Rubio coming in next year. And he's always actively looking to make moves.
Petrie is barely a blip on the trade radar.
Read my post from a week back
I'll be over here patting myself on the back.
By the way, I'm officially throwing my hat into the ring for the general manager job. I have no doubt I can do what Petrie is doing. I'm very good at standing around and looking cerebral, giving non-answers to questions, and basically just surfing the net in my office instead of actually trying to do my job.
"Not as much talent as you think. No chemistry. Way overrated front office. Evans and Cousins are good individual players, not great team players. Rest of the supporting cast has a few solid players like Landry, Casspi ... but not much else to be excited about. I know lots of people love Geoff Petrie, but I don't get what they're so excited about. Team has been terrible for a while. You're supposed to get great players with very high draft picks. Rest of his moves are pretty questionable. Since the roster has already essentially been blown up ... might be time for changes at the top."
Geoff Petrie has been exposed and the league knows it. I've always kind of wondered why Geoff Petrie wasn't pursued by other teams if his reputation was so good. Wouldn't another team throw wads of cash at him if he was a genius? But there's been not a whisper of interest in Petrie over the past 10 years.
No surprise. He ain't a genius.
Here's an even more damning fact: David Kahn, who has garned a reputation as a complete buffoon as general manager of the Timberwolves, is making Petrie look like a hack this year.
Kahn gambled on Miami's Michael Beasley and it paid off big. He chose Wes Johnson over DeMarcus Cousins in the draft and that's looking like a brilliant move. He's got Ricky Rubio coming in next year. And he's always actively looking to make moves.
Petrie is barely a blip on the trade radar.
Read my post from a week back
I'll be over here patting myself on the back.
By the way, I'm officially throwing my hat into the ring for the general manager job. I have no doubt I can do what Petrie is doing. I'm very good at standing around and looking cerebral, giving non-answers to questions, and basically just surfing the net in my office instead of actually trying to do my job.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Joe Maloof's secret text messages: What it would take to fire Paul Westphal
Last night, Joe Maloof sent a text message to Jason Jones of the Bee proclaiming that "No" he was not going to fire Paul Westphal.
What hasn't been revealed were a number of text messages sent by Joe Maloof to his brother Gavin laying down the guidelines for what WOULD cause the firing of the coach.
The text messages were secretly leaked to Kings Talking Points and we are revealing them here today:
--If Paul tries to high-five me in the practice facility bathroom one more time, he's out.
--If Paul keeps ignoring my pleas to massage Tyreke's aching feet during timeouts, he is canned. Period.
--Paul is gone if he can't figure out that calling DeMarcus a "Sulky Suzy" in pre-game warmups is not helpful to the delightful young man's mental well being.
--I think Westy is done if I could convince Bill Walton to coach the team. He was at the house the other night and I love his enthusiasm, but his teeth are kinda annoying.
--If Paul loses another 20 more in a row, there's a pretty good chance we can get off easy by telling the press that he is voluntarily stepping down because of chronic heartburn. That way we don't look like we fired anybody and maybe Westy gets a deal with Zantac.
What hasn't been revealed were a number of text messages sent by Joe Maloof to his brother Gavin laying down the guidelines for what WOULD cause the firing of the coach.
The text messages were secretly leaked to Kings Talking Points and we are revealing them here today:
--If Paul tries to high-five me in the practice facility bathroom one more time, he's out.
--If Paul keeps ignoring my pleas to massage Tyreke's aching feet during timeouts, he is canned. Period.
--Paul is gone if he can't figure out that calling DeMarcus a "Sulky Suzy" in pre-game warmups is not helpful to the delightful young man's mental well being.
--I think Westy is done if I could convince Bill Walton to coach the team. He was at the house the other night and I love his enthusiasm, but his teeth are kinda annoying.
--If Paul loses another 20 more in a row, there's a pretty good chance we can get off easy by telling the press that he is voluntarily stepping down because of chronic heartburn. That way we don't look like we fired anybody and maybe Westy gets a deal with Zantac.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Sam Dalembert for J.J. Redick anyone? And my dream scenario for the Kings
The Orlando Magic are reportedly desperate for another big to compete with the beasts from the East.
They are even pondering the thought of moving sharp-shooting guard J.J. Redick. That's because they recently acquired Jason Richardson from the Suns, making Redick a luxury.
Can you think of a team that might have an extra big man and might also desperately need a shooter?
Anyone?
Bueller?
Well how about this one:
The Kings trade center Sam Dalembert for Redick.
Redick is young, talented, smart and a great shooter.
Does it work?
I'm really not sure. The Magic acquired a $6 million trade exception in a recent deal that sent Marcin Gortat to the Suns. If you add that to Redick's salary of $7.5 million, it matches Dalembert's salary and you've got yourself a deal. Now I'm no cap guru, so maybe the numbers don't work, but wouldn't you make the call if you were Geoff Petrie. Orlando is certainly in the dealing mode right now.
This, of course, would be a huge leap of faith for the Magic. Dalembert's contract is expiring, but he would give them a nice influx of size and shot-blocking.
How about making it a blockbuster. Throw in Carl Landry. Get a point guard. Maybe get another team involved. Have some fun. Make a little news.
For the Kings, it just makes too much sense, which is why is won't even be attempted.
By the way, here's my dream scenario: Some way, the Kings pry Aaron Brooks out of Houston -- perhaps for Carl Landry and a few other pieces.
Then, we move Tyreke to small forward, which is probably his natural position, anyway.
Your new starting lineup:
PG Aaron Brooks
SG J.J. Redick
SF Tyreke Evans
PF Jason Thompson
C DeMarcus Cousins
Now that's a team you can build on...
They are even pondering the thought of moving sharp-shooting guard J.J. Redick. That's because they recently acquired Jason Richardson from the Suns, making Redick a luxury.
Can you think of a team that might have an extra big man and might also desperately need a shooter?
Anyone?
Bueller?
Well how about this one:
The Kings trade center Sam Dalembert for Redick.
Redick is young, talented, smart and a great shooter.
Does it work?
I'm really not sure. The Magic acquired a $6 million trade exception in a recent deal that sent Marcin Gortat to the Suns. If you add that to Redick's salary of $7.5 million, it matches Dalembert's salary and you've got yourself a deal. Now I'm no cap guru, so maybe the numbers don't work, but wouldn't you make the call if you were Geoff Petrie. Orlando is certainly in the dealing mode right now.
This, of course, would be a huge leap of faith for the Magic. Dalembert's contract is expiring, but he would give them a nice influx of size and shot-blocking.
How about making it a blockbuster. Throw in Carl Landry. Get a point guard. Maybe get another team involved. Have some fun. Make a little news.
For the Kings, it just makes too much sense, which is why is won't even be attempted.
By the way, here's my dream scenario: Some way, the Kings pry Aaron Brooks out of Houston -- perhaps for Carl Landry and a few other pieces.
Then, we move Tyreke to small forward, which is probably his natural position, anyway.
Your new starting lineup:
PG Aaron Brooks
SG J.J. Redick
SF Tyreke Evans
PF Jason Thompson
C DeMarcus Cousins
Now that's a team you can build on...
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
DeMarcus Cousins is fined, but it's not a first-time incident for the Kings
DeMarcus Cousins was fined and benched for delivering the "choke" sign during the final moments of Tuesday night's humiliating loss to the Warriors.
But this is far from the first time for a incident like this for the Kings.
In an effort to promote fairness, we've gone over the film for the past few weeks to look for other players who were caught doing odd things on the sidelines.
--At four minutes into the second quarter of the Mavericks game, Donte Greene was seen quietly motioning to Dirk Nowitzki for an autograph. Nowitzki said something nasty in German and ignored him. Greene smiled, applauded, waved a towel, and cheered the response.
--With 30 seconds left in a recent loss to the Heat, Tyreke Evans waited for Kings coach Paul Westphal to turn his back, then he placed his finger down his throat, bent over, and feigned vomiting. When Westphal quickly spun around, Evans quickly grabbed for his ankle and grimaced in pain.
--While sitting on the bench during a blowout loss to the Rockets, Carl Landy was seen hiding under a towel, talking on his cell phone and mouthing the words, "You're my agent, get me the hell out of here."
--During a dry spell in the fourth quarter of a game against the Hornets, Beno Udrih was seen secretly using a Sharpie to write "Pass this, Tyreke" on the game ball. Later, during an important possession, Evans took the ball and held it for a full 20 seconds as he attempted to read the slightly smudged writing. The 24-second clock sounded just at Evans crashed into a defender for an offensive foul.
--Finally, even Westphal hasn't been immune. He was seen flashing the bird to his entire team during a timeout in overtime during the Warriors game.
But this is far from the first time for a incident like this for the Kings.
In an effort to promote fairness, we've gone over the film for the past few weeks to look for other players who were caught doing odd things on the sidelines.
--At four minutes into the second quarter of the Mavericks game, Donte Greene was seen quietly motioning to Dirk Nowitzki for an autograph. Nowitzki said something nasty in German and ignored him. Greene smiled, applauded, waved a towel, and cheered the response.
--With 30 seconds left in a recent loss to the Heat, Tyreke Evans waited for Kings coach Paul Westphal to turn his back, then he placed his finger down his throat, bent over, and feigned vomiting. When Westphal quickly spun around, Evans quickly grabbed for his ankle and grimaced in pain.
--While sitting on the bench during a blowout loss to the Rockets, Carl Landy was seen hiding under a towel, talking on his cell phone and mouthing the words, "You're my agent, get me the hell out of here."
--During a dry spell in the fourth quarter of a game against the Hornets, Beno Udrih was seen secretly using a Sharpie to write "Pass this, Tyreke" on the game ball. Later, during an important possession, Evans took the ball and held it for a full 20 seconds as he attempted to read the slightly smudged writing. The 24-second clock sounded just at Evans crashed into a defender for an offensive foul.
--Finally, even Westphal hasn't been immune. He was seen flashing the bird to his entire team during a timeout in overtime during the Warriors game.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
How can Westphal survive this one?
There's no way Paul Westphal can continue as coach after Tuesday night's devastating loss.
I feel bad for the guy. He is, by all accounts, a decent man. But enough is enough. He has aged 20 years over the past three months. He looks like the poster boy for irritable bowel syndrome.
It's time to put him out of our misery.
Look, it's not Westphal's fault that his two studs - Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins - combined for a pathetic 7-for-31 for 22 points in Tuesday's horrifying OT loss to the Warriors.
But Evans and Cousins have become the Kings of the Forced Shot.
And that falls right on the shoulders of the coach.
It's his job to drum it in their ears.
Pass the ball. Make the offense move. Execute. And don't think you have to be the hero every game, especially when you are shooting like crap.
Westphal needs to be in their faces and making it clear. Maybe he is, but if so, the message isn't being absorbed.
Now all eyes turn to the Maloof brothers. How much humiliation are they willing to take? How many fans are they willing to lose?
Step up and make some moves.
The future of the team may be riding on it.
I feel bad for the guy. He is, by all accounts, a decent man. But enough is enough. He has aged 20 years over the past three months. He looks like the poster boy for irritable bowel syndrome.
It's time to put him out of our misery.
Look, it's not Westphal's fault that his two studs - Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins - combined for a pathetic 7-for-31 for 22 points in Tuesday's horrifying OT loss to the Warriors.
But Evans and Cousins have become the Kings of the Forced Shot.
And that falls right on the shoulders of the coach.
It's his job to drum it in their ears.
Pass the ball. Make the offense move. Execute. And don't think you have to be the hero every game, especially when you are shooting like crap.
Westphal needs to be in their faces and making it clear. Maybe he is, but if so, the message isn't being absorbed.
Now all eyes turn to the Maloof brothers. How much humiliation are they willing to take? How many fans are they willing to lose?
Step up and make some moves.
The future of the team may be riding on it.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Another meltdown. Ho-hum
Somebody coach DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans about what to do with the ball in the final five minutes of the game.
Please.
Oh, that's right. We would need a coach to do that.
By the way, I'm sure nobody's counting but since starting the season 3-1, the Kings have rolled to a 2-19 record.
And here's one last fun fact.
The Kings are averaging 13,457 fans for their home games this year. Only the Nets, who are averaging 13,387, are doing worse.
You can bet the Maloofs are entertaining some might fine offers from other cities right this moment.
Please.
Oh, that's right. We would need a coach to do that.
By the way, I'm sure nobody's counting but since starting the season 3-1, the Kings have rolled to a 2-19 record.
And here's one last fun fact.
The Kings are averaging 13,457 fans for their home games this year. Only the Nets, who are averaging 13,387, are doing worse.
You can bet the Maloofs are entertaining some might fine offers from other cities right this moment.
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.
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.
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