Who will bring the fire?

by lietothegirls on Jul 30, 2008 10:24 AM PDT

Ron Artest is gone. Many are happy to see it happen, maybe most. I myself think he is a singular talent and wish the team had been a little closer to contention and it had worked out. Regardless, I don’t want to have that argument anymore – its moot.

I think in the end the Kings received a very good return on an expiring contract and now expect the Rockets to seriously contend in the West, perhaps even win it if healthy - a real question with Yao and McGrady.

The question I pose now is: Who will bring the fire on the court? Who will get them excited in pre-game against mediocre opponents (always a problem the last few years) Who will be the emotional leader that gets them through tough spots in games?

I suggest that Cisco is one of those guys - but he’s probably/almost certainly the 6th man

Is there a starter who can drive this team emotionally?

Or must we wait and see?

Poll

Who can or will emerge as the emotional leader/ driving force amongst the starters? Assume the list is accurate please.

Kevin Martin

46 votes

Beno Udrih

9 votes

Mikki Moore

26 votes

John Salmons

3 votes

Brad Miller

3 votes

87 votes | Poll has closed

(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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Comments

With all due respet LttG

The Kings performed poorly against the mediocre and lower tier teams of the NBA. The problem was consistency with Ron around, not the actual effort they showed playing against better teams they beat far too often.

Frankly, and I say this, but that’s one thing I hope to see corrected. I hope to see a more consistent effort every night that doesn’t see every guy taking the night off because it’s the OKC Cheaters or the Grizzlies or whatever team they’re playing that night.

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 Jul 30, 2008 10:38 AM PDT reply actions

I didn't realize OKC announced their team name

Thanks for the inside info Pookey!

by rockrichmond2 on Jul 30, 2008 5:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Youre welcome

I hate Clay Bennett with such a passion it isn’t applicable to find words that even remotely describe it. And Sonics fans, well, their feelings are stronger.

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 Jul 30, 2008 10:20 PM PDT up reply actions

If by fire

you mean chest pounding, then hopefully no one. But in my opinion all the yelling and jumping around is all a bunch of crap anyway. Is Tim Duncan less of a competitor than Ron? Is he less intense? I don’t think so. Does Ron want to win more than Kevin just because he pounds his chest and talks about winning championships when the team is 10 games below .500? I don’t think so. Fire, drive, determination are measured by effort and have nothing to do with external “show”.

Did Ron motivate his team mates? Maybe, or maybe they motivated him, or maybe Reggie did, or maybe they’re professionals, life long competitors and they’ve spent their lives striving to hone their skills so that they can compete on the world’s largest stage and they don’t need anyone else to pump them up. I’m not worried about it.

Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott

by Kfan in Korea on Jul 30, 2008 10:49 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Well put

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 Jul 30, 2008 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Bibby, CWebb and Vlade

All were pretty demonstrative when they were winning. Some of that is useful to fire a team up playing sore and tired night after night ina long season.

Good teams need someone who wants to Win, to Beat the other team and motivates thier teammates.

eternal skeptical optimist

by lietothegirls on Jul 30, 2008 10:58 AM PDT reply actions

So if you're not

demonstrative you don’t want to win?

Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott

by Kfan in Korea on Jul 30, 2008 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions

I think the point he's making...

...is that being demonstrative might keep the intensity up for the other guys around you who are tired/sore/unfocused.

I don’t think it was a comment about anyone’s personal desire to win on a given night, but 82 games is a lot.

Duncan was brought up in a previous comment and if you watch him, he gets fired up and keeps his teammates in games . . . he just doesn’t do it the same way that Artest, Webber, Vlade, etc. do.

It brings up interesting follow-up questions such as:

Who picks up the team when things are down?
Who keeps teammates focused when the refs make repeated bad calls?
Who reminds the team that coming back on the road is possible?

I think it’s an interesting thing to look at, especially considering that nobody really had a chance to do any of these things with Ron around, because he basically put himself in that position whether he was the best suited for it or not.

by smgmatt on Jul 30, 2008 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Thank you

for re-articulating. My point exactly.

eternal skeptical optimist

by lietothegirls on Jul 30, 2008 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions

There is a fairness to both these arguments

But I never thought Artest was this guy myself. The Kings would have performed better against the lower rung teams than they did in the Artest era.

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 Jul 30, 2008 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions

OK that makes more sense

I think Kevin said he wants to be that guy. We finally have a chance to see if he can.

My point in referencing Duncan was that he’s a leader without all the chest thumping, so just because we let our chest thumper go doesn’t mean we wont’ have a leader.

I think the answers to your three questions should be “the coach”. Shouldn’t it?

Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott

by Kfan in Korea on Jul 30, 2008 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions

More sense?

Thanks – you should have actually read the post before attacking – I though it was pretty clear.

eternal skeptical optimist

by lietothegirls on Aug 1, 2008 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, I did read your post and responded

You then said:

All were pretty demonstrative when they were winning… Good teams need someone who wants to Win

Insinuating that you have to be demonstrative to want to win and fire up your team mates. I questioned that, and he cleared it up.

I don’t think I attacked you. I questioned the point that Artest fired up his team mates. I questioned that yelling and jumping around is an indicator or desire to win. I also questioned if the coach shouldn’t be the person to motivate the team.

But I didn’t attack you. You should actually read the posts before accusing – I thought they were pretty clear.

Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott

by Kfan in Korea on Aug 1, 2008 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Upon further review

you didn’t say I attacked you, so ignore that stuff. I did attack the point of your post, and I read it and I stand by my response.

Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott

by Kfan in Korea on Aug 1, 2008 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't backpedal now

Continue being a jackass and digging in your heels. It works so well for CC.

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 Aug 5, 2008 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions

The Question

is still valid.

Who will be the leader? In whatever form you want to state it. Does this roster have one? (amongst the starters)

eternal skeptical optimist

by lietothegirls on Jul 30, 2008 11:16 AM PDT reply actions

I think that is yet to be determined

For this year, I’m not sure it’s a hugely important question. But a few years down the road, I would guess that player is either currently not on the roster or it might end up being a Spencer Hawes/Francisco Garcia combo plate.

Kevin Pritchard has Chuck Norris tied up in the trunk of his car.

by otis29 on Jul 30, 2008 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

It's interesting that Kevin Martin seems absent in this discussion

But I think with regards to that, this is definitely a wait & see type thing.

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 Jul 30, 2008 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Leader

There is a difference between someone who gets fired up and a leader. It will be interesting to see who brings the fire as you call it. But leadership is more than emotion as was mentioned above.

smgmatt lists three bullets:

Who picks up the team when things are down?
Who keeps teammates focused when the refs make repeated bad calls?
Who reminds the team that coming back on the road is possible?

I saw Ron Ron do that for exactly half of one season. Last year Ron was the person who skipped the game when things were down. He was the one who got the refs, opposing teams, and opposing fans so fired up that the calls tended to go against us. Yes, Ron helped in some comebacks but he also deserted us on others, by sitting on the bench.

A leader may or may not be emotional. But he brings a team together, he does not tear it apart. he shows respect for his teammates and his coach. He plays even when he probably shouldn’t. he understands that even if your team isn’t going to make the playoffs you still give your all. Feel free to disagree, as I’m sure you will, but in my opinion Mikki was more of a leader than Artest. I expect K-Mart to be the new leader.

"Being loquacious and being right aren't necessarily always the same."
GP, the man, the myth, the legend, puts the smackdown on Reggie

by SavageBeast on Jul 30, 2008 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Reggie Theus

by Carl on Jul 31, 2008 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions

my odd hope...

is that beno udrih steps up. this is obviously kevin martin’s team, but i want beno to lead them. if i want fire from out a player, i want it out of my PG.

by sactoreg on Jul 30, 2008 12:27 PM PDT reply actions

I think the Kings

need to sign Ed Monix and Jackie Moon. They’d bring the fire every night.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Jul 30, 2008 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Ha!

Juwana Man!

Now I can put my pink lace bra and panties back on. - Kfan in Korea

by iashwash on Jul 31, 2008 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Really?

Someone voted for JSalmons? A good player – but I don’t see it.

eternal skeptical optimist

by lietothegirls on Jul 30, 2008 12:43 PM PDT reply actions

'Cisco

I personally hope Garcia becomes the starting SF and leader of this team. His role and minutes have been inconsistent the past few years with Ron Artest in and out of the lineup. Hopefully all that will be cleared up on the 14th.

by blako on Jul 30, 2008 2:38 PM PDT reply actions

I'm sorry but...

given time, I think Quincy will be the biggest motivater. It will depend on how his actual game turns out ( if they dont force him to play point). If that is the case I am sure he will develop into a great player and he comes with the fire.. if you watched any of his college games, you would see how he always led his team.. kinda like he did in the summer league

by Caliballer91 on Jul 30, 2008 7:26 PM PDT reply actions

Seriously?

I don’t think I’ve ever seen the guy say a word to anyone on the court. But he’s got that deer-caught-in-the-headlights look down, and he’s pretty good at avoiding the coach’s eye when he causes a turnover.

Let's go home.-Kevin Martin

by LeaguePassAddict on Jul 30, 2008 9:02 PM PDT up reply actions

hahahaha

yeah… doubster’s best case scenario is Barbosa wihtout ball-handling ability/ boobie gibson.

Now I can put my pink lace bra and panties back on. - Kfan in Korea

by iashwash on Jul 31, 2008 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Divvy it up

Kevin Martin is the best player and the “go to” guy.
Brad Miller and Bobby Jackson are the veteran presence.
Mikki Moore is the fire.
Cisco is the glue.
Hawes is the cocky up and comer.
Salmons is the silent but good locker room guy.
Beno is the floor leader.

By the time the Kings have true cap space, Martin will have proven himself to be either Batman or Robin. The Kings then go shopping accordingly.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jul 30, 2008 8:12 PM PDT reply actions

Give KMart a Snickers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGACNG7-zsI

Let's go home.-Kevin Martin

by LeaguePassAddict on Jul 30, 2008 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions

This is the most interesting subplot of next season

I can’t wait to see who steps up this upcoming season. I’m suspecting/hoping/praying it’s Kevin Martin. I want to see Kevin Martin carry this team on those bony shoulders.

Of course it could also be Bobby Jackson again.

I should have know when I saw the corn rows. We can always spot our own Brad.

by Muff209 on Jul 30, 2008 9:12 PM PDT reply actions

Thank you

I think it may be the most important thing on a developing team.

Who will lead?

Someone must to push you through hard times and keep momentum going in good times.

I personally get the Mikki as ‘emotional leader’, as a fan I feel it. I’m just not certain I saw the other players reacting the same way (respecting him enough?) as a player. Maybe that will clear up with Artest gone though.

Kmartin may always only be scorer ala RayAllen and not much of a team leader – but he could still get that RMiller thing going. I hope he can find it in his personality…..

eternal skeptical optimist

by lietothegirls on Jul 31, 2008 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions

Give us some examples

Who are the leaders on developing teams? I’m not talking about Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller or Magic Johnson. I’m talking about right now – give me some examples of leaders on developing teams that a Kings player could emulate?

Frankly, I think the whole concept is overrated, but I’m willing to listen to arguments to the contrary. By default, the “leader” is generally the guy who scores the most points or is the star of the team. This also happens to be the guy teams go to when they need a basket at the end of a game.

by Carl on Jul 31, 2008 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions

Good point, Carl

Brandon Roy may be the leader in Portland, but that is still a work in progress. Same with Iggy in Philly. Joe Johnson busted out in a big way in the playoffs for Atlanta this year, but the Hawks had to get there for Johnson to leave his stamp.

Agreed.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jul 31, 2008 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions