Who is Mikki Talking About?

by Ziller on Dec 30, 2008 5:48 AM PST in Commentary Comment 23 comments

"I wouldn't say we've quit, but it's like the wind is kicked out of us if we're down points going into halftime," Moore said after Monday's practice. "And it's frustrating, because we come in and we've got our heads down.

"Nobody's fired up. I try to get people fired up, but it's hard to get people fired up if you just don't have enough heart to go out there and compete. That's something you can't teach."

Who is Mikki talking about? Because it really looks like he's talking about someone specific. Or someones. It's hard to tell, because Mikki is so social with everyone, on the floor and in the huddle. Of course, he's given all of the young bigs the "what are you doing?" look when they screw up, and he's had his moments with Beno Udrih and Brad Miller (the latter being quiet moments of smoldering annoyance). Usually, when Moore is mad it's because some missed a rotation. Hard to use that to narrow it down with this team.

Francisco Garcia narrows it done to the starters. You assume they aren't talking about themselves here, so we have Miller, Udrih and John Salmons. Johnny has been the team MVP, so ...

Udrih's not going anywhere, unfortunately. And from everything Amick has reported of late, it doesn't appear Miller is going anywhere either. At some point -- and maybe it's not until the trade deadline -- the lack of enthusiasm, the on-court sloth needs to be answered with a benching. If Udrih isn't playing hard, let Bobby Jackson start at point, let Bobby Brown start at point. If it's Brad Miller who isn't going hard, give the frontline to Moore and Hawes.

I don't disagree that Natt's in an impossible situation. But when you have respected players like Mikki calling out teammates ... you can't really let things play out. I have a feeling Petrie knows who Mikki is talking about, and I hope he bails Natt out soon.

We've learned Miller got fined for being late to practice last week. In this piece, Amick reports there have been five fines since Kenny Natt took over. You figure not showing up on time is a tell-tale sign of lack of enthusiasm. And I think we can tell from the content of Mikki's character that he isn't showing up late. If he is so adamant about all this -- and he's saying all of this a day after the loss, not hours later --

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Well said

I’m not going to toot my horn, but I’ve been saying Beno was wrong for this team sense November. It’s just the way it is right now. And as far as Miller goes, well that’s just obvious. He’s quit on this group, and the only way this team can get anything for him is in a trade. Shit, whoops there that went too.

If you are trying to defend Brad Miller at this point, then you’re wrong. All I’ve got left to say. I’ve been researching batches of prospects at this point, and it’s a hell of a lot better than saying a non-superstar SG means that much to our rookies, and hell, collective psyche of this overall team/managment/coaching staff/fanbase. When Kevin Martin is all you have, you’re in for a long season. If Jason Thompson, who has just flat out been awful in the last month, because no veteran can pick up any of the slack needed for him to be at his best at this moment, can’t perform with Kevin Martin back in the lineup, then I think we have a problem. But until then, I’m not holding my breath about anybody’s performances including Salmons. Salmons has #’s, but anybody playing hard and having ~~a pulse~~ talent can be the team MVP at this point.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Dec 30, 2008 6:11 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

And for the record

I’ve always respected Webb for what he said after the Jon Barry booing in 03. (The most honest and thoughtful statement I’ve ever heard by a player under those types of conditions.) Mikki calling out Brad Miller by everything but name is a gutsy move. But I respect the hell out of him for it. (Even if I was against his signing in the first place, and still remain curious on who pushed his signing. But clearly, Mikki is not the problem with this team in the short term, other than the obvious.)

Maybe it’s time the Kings subject Miller to the Kenny Thomas treatment. Wait until your contract becomes acceptable.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Dec 30, 2008 6:14 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The problem with that is

I would Miller has some value to several teams out there who could use a “productive big man” AND are looking to cut contracts for the 2010 chase. If you bench him, wait til next summer, etc, he goes from being a 2 to a 1-season rental, and is valuable merely as an expiring. Of course, Amic’s recent reporting seems to suggest that he doesn’t actually have much value out there to teams as a “productive big man” so maybe we have to look at other options…. but I would hope it hasn’t come to that point yet. SOMEONE with an eye on 2010 later this month is going to realize they could use Brad, or maybe Geoff will lower his asking price from an “Artest deal level” to a “Bibby deal level”.

by LPKingsFan on Dec 30, 2008 10:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Meh

I dunno, giving much credence to something Mikki Moore says is puzzling. The guy appears to be a good teammate, but that being said – would he be on his 9th team in 10 years if he was a great locker room presence? A seven-foot tall hustle type player that is a good role model for the rest of the team can’t get more than a one year deal anywhere until he gets to Sacramento?

Wasn’t Mikki also the guy that publicly bitched earlier this year when he got pulled from the starting rotation?

Are we gonna live together? Together are we gonna live?

by otis29 on Dec 30, 2008 6:25 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

That makes the statement even more sad & telling in my opinion

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Dec 30, 2008 6:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It tells me

That there is a serious problem with the direction of this team.

I mean, Theus had a certain type of offense he was trying to run. Natt is a Sloan disciple, and Natt says he is being given full leeway to run the team the way he likes. So that is a different type of offense. Then you have Petrie, who prefers a Princeton style offense and rosters his team accordingly.

Geez, I have no idea why anyone would be confused or play inconsistently.

Are we gonna live together? Together are we gonna live?

by otis29 on Dec 30, 2008 6:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree there is a problem and it's multi fold

But the fix is not as simple as firing a coach, or just trading a player, except in this case, trading Brad Miller would really help.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Dec 30, 2008 7:03 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Beno-

He’s gotta be talking about Beno. Natt mentioned the same type of thing earlier when he disucussed how Beno was playing for a contract last year and he needs to see that “fire” out of him again. As disgusted as I am by the fact that the Kings roll out a starting frontcourt of Mikki and Brad, I don’t think you can fault Mikki for this one..

A good point was raised by Otis in regards to the # of teams, etc. Mikki has been played for. In most cases, thats a pretty telling indicator of a guys worth with respect to his locker room presence, IQ etc. (See Steve Francis, Jason Richardson, Stephon Marbury…the list goes on and on.) However, I dont think these are issues with which you can fault Mikki. He has always been an overacheiver, earning his way through hard work from a cornhusker to the NBA. I’d be pissed too if I busted my tail to get to the NBA, and I see a guy like Beno (you can throw in Brad too) who got way too comfortable and doesnt have the drive like he once had.

by Hoops916 on Dec 30, 2008 9:09 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Lets stop picking names out of our hats

The whole team is lathargic and despeately some shaking up roster-wise. They all KNOW the problem wasn’t Theus, whatever they think his faults may have been. If they didn’t know, they know NOW.

The question is: Can they stay patient enough to make a Good roster move? (this, dispite my crying for a change, I know) I do want some promising pieces back from any trade(s). What pieces? There has been a lot of speculation and guesswork here at STR but I for one admit that I’m just not sure. Its such a mess it hard to tell and my (and others) finger points first one way and then another.

I think we need some fire, I know that, but that may require taking a chance on someone with problems ala Ron Artest.

For me, right now, no one is off limits for the right deal. No one. But I’m admittedly disgusted and discouraged and might possibly make a hasty, ill advised move if it was up to me.

"You keep on using that word
I do not think it mean what you think it means"

by lietothegirls on Dec 30, 2008 9:19 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No one's sure about any piece coming back

Only Petrie knows that, and he won’t announce it to any of us until he announces it to everyone else also. Trade rumors are always speculation from our end; that’s just the way it works when you talk about fans discussing trades before the actual trade happens.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Dec 30, 2008 9:23 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

We have talent

but we need the right piece to compliment it, to bring it together.

Yes, thats GPs job – and I’m praying that the dude finds an answer. All I have are questions.

"You keep on using that word
I do not think it mean what you think it means"

by lietothegirls on Dec 30, 2008 9:35 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

We have NO Talent

I believe we have 2 legitimate NBA quality starters. Martin and Salmons…..Moore, Beno and Miller have NO business starting in the NBA…..Hawes and JT will someday be NBA starters (Hawes can possibly make his argument right now) and I’m optimisatic Greene will one day start as well….Garcia, Bobby Brown, BJ, Sheldon & K-9 will never be starters in the NBA.

Having 2 (possibly 3 if you include Hawes) players with the quality to start in the NBA right now, you do NOT have talent…GP needs to work some serious talent and pray for a top 3 pick

by Hoops916 on Dec 30, 2008 10:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

GP needs to work some serious talent and pray for a top 3 pick

I don’t think much prayer is required the way things are going. The real prayers should be for this to be a halfway decent draft.

Shut up and Coach

by Carl on Dec 30, 2008 10:32 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well Said

Agreed…. Im praying for a PG myself..However, remeber that the worst record isnt a guarenteed a top 3 pick.. Wasn’t Oden supposed to be the next great Celtic?…Although, something tells me they aernt too pissed anymore about the way the pingpong ball bounced that day-

by Hoops916 on Dec 30, 2008 11:12 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Where would Douby rate??

"Oh, boy! This website is very good. Hey, let's talk about the Raiders!" - "Peaches" Napier

by dalt99 on Dec 30, 2008 1:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Free Shelden and K9

If we’re going to play Miller and Moore so that their trade value doesn’t drop, and not because their the best players we have then hell we should start Shelden & K9 too. And, Douby too.

Starting lineup Hawes, Shelden, Salmon, Douby, & Brown
Reserves JT, K9, Green, BJax, & Beno

"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom

by HighTops on Dec 30, 2008 10:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

The sad part is

That team wouldn’t be worse.

Shut up and Coach

by Carl on Dec 30, 2008 1:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank God we traded Artest before this season. I can’t imagine how messy things would be if he were still here; luckily, he’s in Houston making 37% of his shots from the floor.

I always think that as bad as things are now, they would’ve been far worse if we kept him around.

by jeremy548 on Dec 30, 2008 12:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

And that my friend

is the truth

by eduardo_m7 on Dec 30, 2008 2:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Nothing but the truth so help us Alanis

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Dec 30, 2008 2:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ya'll know I don't agree

Players like Artest bring more than stats.

Not saying he was right for us right now – but its a beyond the box score issue of heart, fire and determination that rubs off on other players that we sorely lack right now.

"You keep on using that word
I do not think it mean what you think it means"

by lietothegirls on Dec 30, 2008 2:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah he was great

For mistreatment of his dog, getting into fights with his wife in front of his 2 year old son, and oh, who can forget, the jawing with fans in Utah. Oh, yeah, that Artest guy, what a positive presence.

But my favorite was after all that, it came down to the fact he wasn’t getting to a contract, and he started to refer to himself as Bill. The team isn’t as good, now, as they would be with Artest, but if you’re a mediocre team with him, he ain’t worth keeping.

Just the facts, Jack, just the facts!

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Dec 30, 2008 2:54 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs