Defense? Pfft
Great offensive night, and I'm willing to overlook the rest. Mikki Moore is the team's best post defender (a problem to begin with), and he played 23 minutes due to foul trouble. When Spencer Hawes and Shelden Williams are your big minutes bigs, 140 points is about right. No offense to either guy; they just cannot defend that well straight up at this point.
Speaking of Hawes, his legs look dead. Many of those Golden State offensive rebounds came with Hawes in good position ... but not much oomph to get them. Andris Biedrins, especially, went right around or over Hawes a few times, and Beans isn't much longer than Shock.
Shelden drew some commentary in the game thread, and I'd have to say I'm about on board with what everyone else says: He's a bench player at this point and likely in the future. His post skills are remarkably unpolished, his defense is questionable, and his size might keep him from being an elite rebounder (which needs to be his calling card).
Kevin Martin: 29 points on 12 shots, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and just 1 turnover. The definition of efficiency. Outside of Martin, the most encouraging things from the Kings perspective:
- Francisco Garcia: 35 minutes, 18 FGAs, 0 turnovers. If he can be mistake-free, he's a huge asset and a potential Sixth Man of the Year candidate.
- Quincy Douby hit his shots, played aggressive basketball, and made no mistakes. Great stint.
- Beno Udrih got knocked down three or four times, and got right back up every time.
- Anyone feel like the 'John Salmons can't play off the bench' thing might actually be a 'John Salmons plays better with Kevin Martin' thing? 22 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 0 turnovers with efficient shooting and passable defense (he shut down Monta Ellis in the fourth).
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Comments
Kevin Martin
If Martin can average 27 points a game over the last four games he will end the season with a 24.0 ppg average (currently at 23.8).
by section214 on Apr 9, 2008 8:14 AM PDT 0 recs
I say...
Keep skewing the back court! Draft Eric Gordon...
Oh and Section, not to undermine you by any means, but don't sell Garcia short, he was the team point leader with 31 (and most encouragingly, only 6 of those points came from 3's.)
by rbiegler on Apr 9, 2008 8:53 AM PDT 0 recs
I meant to do that -
Thanks for correcting me. If you could break open walnuts on your forehead I would think that you were Mrs. section214.
by section214 on
Apr 9, 2008 9:42 AM PDT
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Hawes
Let's face it, his biggest area for growth is on the defensive end where he simply doesn't have the same instincts he does on the offensive side. Still, the defense of most first year players in the NBA just plain sucks. I'm not too worried at this point. From all accounts he has a good worth ethic, plenty of attitude, and a micro-managing coach, who is going to ride his young ass for the time-being.
Loved watching El Flaco light it up!
by Kusian on Apr 9, 2008 10:13 AM PDT 0 recs
Hawes looked tired, but...................
by Reverend John on Apr 9, 2008 12:25 PM PDT 0 recs
Does this mean Darrell Arthur is the type
by pookeyguru on Apr 9, 2008 1:25 PM PDT 0 recs
Maybe we get lucky
/smart ass
by vfettke on
Apr 9, 2008 2:15 PM PDT
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Actually watched the game
by thekangarooster on Apr 9, 2008 3:53 PM PDT 0 recs
I refuse to watch the Kings anymore
by pookeyguru on
Apr 9, 2008 10:58 PM PDT
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Thinking out loud
Had Petrie made the deal with the Nuggets, they would have likely wound up with the 19th pick in this year's draft (I'm figuring Ron nets them at least 1 or 2 wins, which secures them a playoff spot and by record lands them at 19 or 20). To be sure, players that can help this team will be available at 19 or 20, especially given GP's draft track record.
My question is - can the Kings do better with a draft day trade? If J-Rich was worth a #8 pick, then what is Artest's value? I have really not looked at the desired or needs of the teams drafting in 3-18 spots (I'm figuring 1 and 2 are off limits for Beasley and Rose). Or could Artest and our #12 (and one of our 2nd round picks) be packaged to move up?
Whaddya' think? Has my blind optimism finally gotten the best of me, or could something like this happen?
by section214 on
Apr 10, 2008 8:51 AM PDT
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There's always a chance
by Carl on
Apr 10, 2008 10:28 AM PDT
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I'm pretty sure we Can't trade Artest.
by Kfan in Korea on
Apr 10, 2008 12:11 PM PDT
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Kfan is correcct on this
Via the Coon on why Artest is considered a FA:
by pookeyguru on
Apr 10, 2008 1:43 PM PDT
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OK
by section214 on
Apr 10, 2008 1:55 PM PDT
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Good luck pulling that off
by pookeyguru on
Apr 10, 2008 1:59 PM PDT
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without^
by pookeyguru on
Apr 10, 2008 2:00 PM PDT
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I don't think
On a separate note, pookey, I feel you on the Artest value thing. If kingstv did a mix of good Ron you'd never trade him. If kingstv did a mix of bad Ron no one would sign him. GP must understand that he has to trade both Ron's at the same time. It would be like trading Garcia and K9(woof!) as a package - here's a great young player with value, but you have to take our crap, too. That's why I posed the question. I wonder if the Kings are seriously considering keeping Artest for next year, or if they will finally settle for what the market demands.
by section214 on
Apr 10, 2008 2:10 PM PDT
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Any deal such as that will have to be
And, yeah, there could be tampering if it's done entirely under the table, and IF there is any wrong doing it will be bad juju.
Personally, and I don't see why this would happen on June 28th, as opposed to say July 9th, but I can't really see why any pre-agreed scenario with Artest opting out and getting more money from another team would work either.
The thing about Ron is as a player I don't think he totally translates to winning basketball without certain things (like shot blocking bigs around him) around. I don't think the Kings are better off with him around, and I don't think getting a big like say Darrell Arthur will help him be more effective down the road. He will still have Bad-Ron moments down the road too. That's just who and what he is. Every team in the league is afraid of the guy, with maybe the possible exception of the short term. Petrie doesn't like that as he wants more for a "talent" like Artest. Where is Petrie going to go from here if he doesn't trade Artest? Well, the funny farm perhaps, but more likely the short road to alzheimer's would be my guess.
by pookeyguru on
Apr 10, 2008 2:28 PM PDT
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Everyone is "Bad" At Times
You could say that about every player in the league and certainly on the Kings. Maybe you can make a Kevin Martin defensive package that just focuses on the guys who have torched him this year, for example.
Artest definitely isn't a perfect player, and shot selection is often one of his defects. But he brings a lot of positives to the table as well.
by coolcatreportdotcom on
Apr 10, 2008 10:44 PM PDT
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What are those positives that make the
by pookeyguru on
Apr 10, 2008 10:48 PM PDT
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I was responding to Section's comments
by coolcatreportdotcom on
Apr 10, 2008 11:20 PM PDT
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Thank You Mr Rogers
by pookeyguru on
Apr 10, 2008 11:59 PM PDT
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Making the team better
Those skills make the Kings a better team.
by coolcatreportdotcom on
Apr 10, 2008 11:27 PM PDT
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Way to avoid the question
by pookeyguru on
Apr 10, 2008 11:58 PM PDT
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Whatever
by coolcatreportdotcom on
Apr 11, 2008 8:04 AM PDT
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Easy Solution
by coolcatreportdotcom on
Apr 12, 2008 10:15 PM PDT
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Speaking of Kevin Martin vs Ron Artest
Kevin Martin isn't perfect, and despite the fact that he's a few people's favorite player on this team (I don't know who everyone's favorite player--he is mine), all you wish to do is attack the guy. You don't ever mention positives such as he gets to the line alot which helps the Kings offense, and presumably hurts the opponents defense because a defender has to defend Kmart, and no longer because he's in foul trouble, and then to top it off you don't mention that in terms of dollars vs production Kevin is one of the best in the NBA this season.
Ron is a pain in the ass. He doesn't lead to winning teams. He isn't a franchise player, and yet continues to fancies himself as exactly that. He can play with a bad thumb in a home game, but in a road game, that the Kings are trying to win games for some moronic reason, he won't play because of a thumb?
If it was up to me, and unfortunately it was not, I'd beat your ass to death with a baseball bat and be happy about it. Feel fortunate that's it's not up to me coolcat.
by pookeyguru on
Apr 11, 2008 12:21 AM PDT
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jesus man
"I hate Ron, I hate Ron," meeauuhhhh. He's a cancer in the side of your franchise, that's cool, we all get it. People live with cancer. Eventually they get rid of that shit. If they're in Cali, they purchase some legal doubage. But don't die cuz of it. That's the last thing you wanna do. Relax, somebody's going to get bounced major in the playoffs, then turn around and start looking for the big gamble. It'll happen. Chillax. Ride the Ronnie wave till it does; at least it's never a dull moment.
by iashwash on
Apr 11, 2008 2:42 AM PDT
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Umm
I don't like Artest on this team. I don't enjoy the ride because it's frustrating. I'm all for rebuilding, even with little known players with no talent to build on for the future. With Artest, though, the Kings are stuck. Can't move forward, and they aren't going back. Being stuck in neutral makes a grinding sound, that I for one, am tired of hearing.
by pookeyguru on
Apr 11, 2008 12:18 PM PDT
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Clarity
Really, Pookey? I'm glad you cleared that up, because I don't think anyone knew you felt that way.
After a slow start, the Pookey Fund is beginning to make some headway. Not in the Peaches-K9 Fund class, but getting there. In fact, it's almost to Curtis James Jackson III status.
by coolcatreportdotcom on
Apr 11, 2008 1:39 PM PDT
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It's not Kevin vs. Ron, it's Kevin AND Ron
- It's not Kevin vs. Ron, it's Kevin AND Ron. I like reading stories when they combine for 50-60 points and the team wins like they did recently against the Rockets and Sonics. The teams are dangerous when they are both clicking. I don't like reading stories that have the Kings losing "despite Kevin Martin" like the Warriors game.
- I think it's great when Ron doesn't play and the team wins, like against the Nuggets. But that's not the norm. The team does better when he plays than when he doesn't, plain and simple. That's why the TV guys always point out the team's record when he plays and when he doesn't.
- I've said lots of positive things about Kmart recently. Read my last 30-40 comments and you'll find at least 4-5 praising Kmart, such as ranking him as the Kings top player and saying:
You can also check out these recent posts:
http://www.sactownroyalty.com/comments/2008/4/5/195943/4782/26#26
http://www.sactownroyalty.com/comments/2008/4/2/102911/4884/27#27
http://www.sactownroyalty.com/comments/2008/4/3/1488/58745/7#7
by coolcatreportdotcom on
Apr 11, 2008 8:55 AM PDT
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Artest as Enforcer
by coolcatreportdotcom on
Apr 11, 2008 12:03 PM PDT
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Everyone is "bad" at times
by section214 on
Apr 11, 2008 7:48 AM PDT
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Bad Reference
"On a separate note, pookey, I feel you on the Artest value thing. If kingstv did a mix of good Ron you'd never trade him. If kingstv did a mix of bad Ron no one would sign him."
In other words, a remix of game action. That's what I responded to. Everyone has bad plays and good plays that could be packaged in a video.
Your other points certainly have some validity.
by coolcatreportdotcom on
Apr 11, 2008 9:02 AM PDT
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Allow me to clear it up
Sorry about the confusion.
by section214 on
Apr 11, 2008 9:12 AM PDT
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Two legends*
* In their own minds.
by KK on
Apr 11, 2008 9:18 PM PDT
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Good one
http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=coolcatreport.com&word2=pookeyguru
by coolcatreportdotcom on
Apr 12, 2008 12:17 AM PDT
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This one
http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=Coolcat+Report&word2=Sactown+Royalty
by coolcatreportdotcom on
Apr 12, 2008 12:22 AM PDT
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The +/- Thing
by NYCFan on Apr 10, 2008 7:25 AM PDT 0 recs
Plus / Minus (+ / -)
+ / - is a neat little stat, but a lot of it depends on who you are on the floor with. I think that it's a reasonable contributor to evaluating one's performance over the course of the season, but the game by game numbers can sometimes be misleading.
by section214 on
Apr 10, 2008 7:57 AM PDT
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Thanks. Follow-up question
by NYCFan on
Apr 10, 2008 9:00 AM PDT
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Sure
I think there are some modified plus/minus stats out there that take this stuff (lineups, opponents) into consideration as well.
by otis29 on
Apr 10, 2008 9:06 AM PDT
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Yes
Douby was a +8. Was he really 20 points better than Martin that night. Uh, no.
I think that over a season (or even a month) you can pick up some trends, but the game by game numbers are much more volatile.
by section214 on
Apr 10, 2008 9:30 AM PDT
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Section
by pookeyguru on
Apr 10, 2008 2:03 PM PDT
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