Swinging

by Ziller on Jan 10, 2009 6:45 AM PST in Recaps Comment 21 comments

If I had mentioned before that wins and losses aren't particularly thrilling or stinging these days, I apologize. Because that fricking stung.

That game was cinched for either side three times. Dwyane Wade's steal near the end of regulation, Kevin Martin's three free throws, the stop after the Spencer Hawes flagrant ... and, of course, Wade's finish in overtime. A brutal loss, just as it would have been for the Heat if the Kings could finish.

It's mind-boggling that the best crunch time play was came on Hawes' tying jumper with less than five seconds left. Given 24 seconds every other possession, the Kings tossed up a variety of forces, disconcertingly discombobulated set-ups. Little rhyme, less reason. As was noted in the game thread, Martin wasn't particularly strong late. The turnover in regulation -- you've got to get it past the guy (Daequan Cook) guarding the in-bounds, even if the play looks broken and the spacing bad. You need to get a shot up every time down, first of all. And hopefully in the future, those shots will be better than a ceaseless parade of contested threes.

The confidence of Hawes is a positive. Jason Thompson played strong defense. Brad Miller played strong defense (for Brad Miller). The destruction of Beno Udrih continued a-pace. Donté Greene looks ready to destroy the Sundowner's breakfast buffet. Crushing, CRUSHING loss. But if you can't find positives, you really shouldn't be subjecting yourself to this team.

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As always well done

1) Kevin and Salmons looked happy to be on the same court together for the first time in recent memory. To me that is a huge, huge positive, because I haven’t given up the possibility they could co-exist on a good team (I may be alone in that opinion).

2) Spencer made some great plays and really is unique. I have a lot of trouble comparing his skill set to other players, which is exciting. We don’t know where he is going, but he is definitely growing steadily.

3) JT looked really, really comfortable (for him). He had some rookie plays, but it looked like he felt a lot better about the speed and intensity of the game tonight. He made some very good basketball decisions tonight, which is tremendous progress and is validation that he is ready for starter minutes.

4) The deconstruction of this team in crunch time continued, barring our Hawesroics. No one on this team is good enough to break down good defense and get the team good shots. The guy most important to the offense creating a good shot (when the guys run it) surprisingly is still Brad Miller. Miller is the only one that makes the offense still flow against good defense. That’s on the coaches to keep developing these guys and finding something that will work. Its on Salmons and Martin especially to not lose confidence and to keep trying with a team approach, and its up to us to not completely lose faith.

This team is really pretty good offensively against normal defense. We are really bad right now against good defense and our defense also is generally pretty bad (we’ve had a few decent moments recently).

Personally, I was very encouraged by last night’s game, it was a lot of fun and plenty of growth. There are interesting pieces here and I think we’re moving in the right direction. Its going to take time though, and some changing of some pieces or addition before we’re good. For now, its good to see these guys interested, together and getting better, which I think clearly they are.

The more you guys work the trade machine, the happier I am GP is our GM.

by ForThree on Jan 10, 2009 7:31 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Opus Dei

is the religious sect in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.

As a stalwart Kings Fan, I am seeing some unfortunate comparisons. Watching these Kings, at times, is an exercise in self- mutilation. Such is the life of the fanatic.

I have great pain in watching each loss and the conflicted joy of knowing each time that a more secured draft position is rewarded. I secretly wish that the Wizards, Twolves and Clippers will go on a measly 3 or 4 game win streak.

Which way is up?

by betweentheeyes on Jan 10, 2009 11:15 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

Opes Dei is also a real religious group

Brown didn’t make them up. (For those who care, it’s a link about Opus Dei. I don’t care to read it, as I’m not religious, and well, don’t believe in religion. And now onto other matters.)

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 Jan 11, 2009 11:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I secretly wish that the Wizards, Twolves and Clippers will go on a measly 3 or 4 game win streak.

The Wizards and Clippers have too much talent to stay this bad all year. Their guys will get healthy and they’ll improve, at least somewhat. Neither of those teams is a threat to the Kings draft position.

Shut up and Coach

by Carl on Jan 11, 2009 3:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Stating the obvious

Last night was a glaring statement of what the Kings lack. They lack a Wade, LeBron, Paul, Kobe, Pierce, Carter, etc. That clutch player who can get his own shot and make it in crunch time. Hawes made some great clutch shots, but needed help to get them. Wade did it on his own. The Kings have a group of complementary players. Some of them are very good, but they are not that guy. How we acquire that player I do not know. I suspect it is a matter of luck. Trades can bring you more role players. Free agency could get you a Bosh or a Stoudemire. Those aren’t the answer. Ball handling Superstars don’t grow on trees and they aren’t for sale.

by setvet on Jan 10, 2009 11:28 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Agree, but

I agree, but the really good Kings teams never had that guy either. Webber developed a killer instinct in the year or so before he blew out his knee, but during most of his time with the Kings, he couldn’t put the team on his back late in the fourth and win a game. Those Kings teams won through excellent execution and teamwork.

So I agree, that there isn’t a superstar player or a guy with a killer instinct on this roster. Bobby Jackson and Spencer Hawes come closest to having that killer instinct, but Bobby is 35 and Spencer isn’t great at creating his own shot. The real problem for the Kings is just a basic lack of talent. The young guys are young and the vets are mediocre at best.

I agree completely that the Kings need to pursue all-star and superstar level players. MLE abuse is absolutely killing this franchise.

Shut up and Coach

by Carl on Jan 11, 2009 3:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

We were at the game,

our 114 K seats we have for 8 of the games (we have some others not so good)
So nice and close

First things first

Cisco took a beating (ouch!). He’s a tough guy but…..

Hawes got his groove back. I’ll bet he builds on that, the kid will definately score in this league. Of course we all know how clutch he was, at the end of the game and in overtime. Shots, rebounds, everything. We were sure the game was over – Hawesome.

Km looked a little gassed all game, he was gasping a lot. Now, DWade was chasing him around but I wonder if that was all. Another bad late game decision or two and he’s just got to hit the weights some more, another 15 pds….

JT looked Ok, a lot of rookie plays though, it’d be nice to start seeing a little more polish here and there.

Salmons had good numbers but did nothing late or in overtime to assert himself, try to win the game, he was invisible.

K-9 had some reasonably good minutes (shudder!), missed one of those point blank shots that made him dissappear in the first place.

BobbyJ looked exciting but was mediocre, couldn’t shoot, over-dribbled stopping the ball too much, a few assists – not a very good night.

Beno in the doghouse, is he being punished more than others on the team? Every body had 1 TO (at least 2 for most) except Jackson. Another sloppy night with the ball.

Troubles with rebounding. Team rebounding. With two legitamate bigs under the basket, one should ‘consider’ boxing out and leave the easy rebound for the other.

Oh, and the wife just came and said “Cisco took a beating” and “I’m not a Beno fan but it seemed like everyone was getting TOs”

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

by lietothegirls on Jan 10, 2009 11:29 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

My wife also added

that the last 3 games (?) we’ve been to have been Overtime losses – and its killing her.

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

by lietothegirls on Jan 10, 2009 11:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and she said

“Brad played well, some shots just didn’t go in” and concurs with me that Salmons dissappeared late in the game.

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

by lietothegirls on Jan 10, 2009 11:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

wife needs her own account

Seems like she’s got stuff to say.

Donte? Donte'! Donté?!?!
'spect da 'xtra E'

by iashwash on Jan 10, 2009 1:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Is that... what she said??

by eduardo_m7 on Jan 10, 2009 1:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, married.

she was looking over my shoulder, give me a break…..

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

by lietothegirls on Jan 10, 2009 6:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope you are joking

Cause I was. I was kinda going for the ’that’s what she said’ joke.

by eduardo_m7 on Jan 10, 2009 6:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

ohhhh

my bad, I thought it was a ‘whipped’ reference

Which all married men are to some extent

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

by lietothegirls on Jan 10, 2009 8:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

All good. Married too

by eduardo_m7 on Jan 10, 2009 10:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not a big fan of the way Natt is handling Beno

This loss really hurt though, more so than others. Oh well, here’s to the next game.

"It's as Ann as the nose on plain's face."

by Apoet on Jan 10, 2009 11:53 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Agree

The bigger lineup with Cisco playing the point worked well in stretches, but eventually the players got tired. Bobby Jackson playing most of crunch time at the point is not the answer. Beno needs some of those late minutes.

"The basis for winning an NBA title is having a superstar in his prime. Not an all-star, or a bunch of all-stars, but a superstar."

by coolcatreportdotcom on Jan 10, 2009 1:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hawes

Would have been great for the kid to come out the hero – and he deserved it. KMart forced shots all night and that last piece of garbage he tossed up, which gave the Heat the ball with 23.1 left was particularly annoying – especially as Spencer was wide-open to his left with what would have been a simple catch and shoot. Instead, he ran into a double team and tossed up a prayer. D Wade he ain’t.

I’m not a fan of how Nat is handling Beno either; but, I gotta askl ya who would have preferred him over Bobby during the final few minutes and the OT?

by Kusian on Jan 10, 2009 12:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

agreed

Beno had not been having a good game. Don’t you go with those you feel more confident in helping to get a win?

by KingsFan on Jan 10, 2009 12:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I would when he plays like he's Reggie Miller

When he shots 1 or 6 from the 3, it’s the same as 5 turnovers to me. He wasn’t needed for defense. Miami’s PG’s had 15 pts in 50 minutes. So, how was he better than BB or Beno. The Kings scored 62 first half points with Beno & BB at the PG. They scored 42 second half points with BJax & Cisco at the PG.

Beno & BB were 4 for 13 in 24min, and BJax & Cisco were 4 for 14 in 46mins. Both duos had 3 assists and one 3pt shot. I’m just really tired of BJax getting all his playing time at the expense of BB.

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

by HighTops on Jan 10, 2009 12:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Mikki is killing the team. Literally.

I learned that we have to get rid of Mikki. I think JT was getting beat up more by Mikki on the bench that when he was on the court. Every time they shot MM and JT on the bench, MM was elbowing JT in the arm and chest. At one point he hit JT hard enough that JT looked at him and said ouch.

At least make him wear elbow pads on the bench!

by Bitgod on Jan 10, 2009 6:53 PM PST reply actions 0 recs