Looking Ahead: These Kings are for Real

by kingme18 on Dec 19, 2007 8:23 PM PST

I think these Kings can do great things this season. Yes they can make the playoffs in the West, I'm certainly not going to guarantee that they will but the defensive improvement has been outstanding and that's the key. Yes, they're just 23rd according to number but those numbers are a fluke. I think we definitely should be in the middle of the pack in terms of defensive numbers.

Yes, people are going to harp that when the Kings get Bibby back, they'll be even better. I, for one strongly disagree with that notion. Beno is doing his job and doing it at a way that I feel is very satisfying and should keep his job as the team's starting point guard. I, see Bibby as a valuable trade chip for the Kings. If the Kings can get another teens or even early 20 pick and a power forward, I would be absolutely ecstatic by the prospect of the team.

This team is playing at a level that I don't think anyone could have imagined the turnaround. Reggie Theus has instilled a sense of discipline. The Kings are doing exactly what they're supposed to do.

I'm sorry, folks, but the Mike Bibby era is O-V-E-R. I just don't see where he fits in to this team in the present nor the future.

(This is a FanPost from a member of the Sactown Royalty community. The views expressed come from the member, and not Sactown Royalty staff.)

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what about

and what about Artest?

by kingme on Dec 19, 2007 10:43 PM PST reply actions

You under value Bibby's ability....

to hit the big shot when the game is on the line. The Kings lack the big clutch shooter, Francisco did a great job hitting the three against New Jersey but then he cam unglued the next night. Same can be said about Beno, one night he goes 0-8 and the next night he hit 6 threes.

Bibby will probably be dealt but its because he makes 28 million over this and next season not because he is a bad player. I love what Beno has brought to the table but Bibby will make the team better than it is right now. It's not like the Beno is going to the bench and not getting any minutes at all. Bibby will lighten the load on Martin and Beno while eliminating the need for wasted minutes of Quincy Douby. Having Bibby back will also allow Theus to rotate Garcia back to the three along with Salmons and Artest. Artest will be able to play more at the power, eliminating the need to ever put Kenny Thomas on the floor.

A nine man rotation of Bibby, Martin, Beno, Garcia, Salmons, Artest, Moore, Miller and Hawes is good and might even be enough to make the playoffs. I'm with Kingme on this one, if someone should go it should probably be Artest. Salmons has proven he's ready to start, I also like the minutes Dahntay Jones has given.

We are slipping into the NBA abyss.

by jjham15 @ Sactown Royalty on Dec 20, 2007 11:50 AM PST reply actions

Do you have any statistical evidence

To back up the idea that Bibby is a "clutch shooter"? I looked at an analysis at 82games.com, but didn't see any mention of Bibby.

Sure, he would take more shots at crunch time than anyone else, and he's made a few but that alone doesn't make him a "big shot" specialist. Especially over the last two seasons.

Fact is, Bibby is not part of the long-term solution here, and is more likely to slow the growth of this team than to speed it up.

He needs to go bye-bye, and soon.

by otis29 on Dec 20, 2007 12:05 PM PST up reply actions

I love Bibby, but...

When I watched the Kings in Denver a few weeks back, I didn't feel like he was "missing" from the team. Sounds weird, but I like the young team waiting for the big breakout.

In Geoff we trust...

by Exhibit G on Dec 20, 2007 6:09 PM PST reply actions