I do not get to watch many games as I am in Texas, but when the Kings come on national TV, I always partake in may favorite activity... watching Kings basketball. Usually I rely upon SR for game insight and analysis as many of you go to the games and the rest watch `em on the tube. Since I got a chance to watch my boys in action here is some observations I made about our hero Eric Musselman.

I am not going to bash Muss for the sake of bashing him as I feel that he needs his time to put his stamp onto the team. How long this will take is a crapshoot, but I at least will give him until after next season. However, this season has not been the best for dear old Muss.  Let me explain... Last night against the Spurs I noticed a few subtle things regarding our coach which troubled me. In the first quarter the Kings called a timeout (maybe TV-time but regardless a timeout) after the Spurs went on a mini-run. I believe the game was 18-14 or so Spurs. Muss comes onto the court after the timeout and looks up at the scoreboard to, I assume, check the score of the game. Maybe he was checking out a hot chick in the stands or maybe he had a crick in his neck but it definitely seemed as if he was totally unaware of the game situation. When he glanced up he seemed surprised that the Kings were down and let a little frown creep across his face. This incident may be innocent enough but I would expect that a coach is constantly aware of the game situation at all times. I do not expect a running box score in the coach's brain but I also do not expect the coach to be surprised his team is getting their asses handed to them.

My second observation (actually it was before the first one, but who is counting...oh wait I am, nevermind) was the lack of timeout calls in the first when the Spurs were opening it up.  They eventually went on an approx. 9-0 run before Muss stopped the bleeding. I did my own hand-signal timeout after three made Spurs baskets in-a-row because I expected a TO, but to my shock it never came. If I know to call TO, then Muss should know it to. The Spurs scored twice more...'nuff said.

My third observation came when the Kings were getting back into the game. They went on a run and Pop called timeout (wow...what a concept). As the Kings were returning to the sidelines John Salmons was leading the way to the bench, and had just made a few good plays. Muss comes out to give a high-five to J-Salm to celebrate his non-suckitude and he stiffs Muss. That's right people Muss was left hangin' on national TV. Was it purely coincidental or purposeful? The world may never know.

My last observation came during the action of the game. It was a tight contest at this point and really anyone's game. The Kings got a defensive stop and had momentum to finally take the lead as the ball crossed half-court. Brad gets the ball near the right wing and then looks to the sideline at Muss with a look of pure confusion on his face. I have seen this look in someone's eyes before and it was as clear as if he was speaking to me. Brad was saying, "Coach WTF are we running here." The fact that the team seems to have no set offense and that one of the most tenured Kings has no idea what the team is going to do on a critical offensive possession is inexcusable. The ball ended up in Bibby's hands and he jacked up a bad shot and well, you know how the rest of the game went.

My method to all this madness is that a guy who marketed himself on preparedness seemed remarkably unprepared in this basketball game. Maybe he sucked back too much of grandpa's old cough syrup. I really dunno. Muss has got to get his act together for next season (if he is around...but I bet he is). What do you think?