Freelance

by Ziller on Jan 7, 2009 11:47 AM PST in Recaps Comment 48 comments

In case there had been any question as to what went wrong on the final Kings possession:

"Kevin knew that we were down three, and he decided to take the ball to the basket," [Kenny] Natt said. "For whatever reason, we thought that he had some looks but he drew some other guys in and it was just a situation where he just decided to go for the two. … Again, decision-making down the stretch has hurt us, and we have to continue to get better at it."

The only positive result -- because he wasn't looking at Brad Miller in the corner -- could have been an And-1. But Martin's not healthy yet, and he hasn't finished in traffic late in games well in his five games back.

I fail to register bursting anger because the Kings have had equally befuddling crunch time possessions all season. Because it happened at the buzzer during a bad road losing streak, and because it was the star, it will get more attention today. But again: this has happened all season. The team's a bit undisciplined, not terribly focused, and generally bad. Stuff like this is no surprise.

Martin's ball-handling all game long was a bigger downer. Seven of his roughly 30 possessions ended with a turnover. Too many. Brad Miller had three in 18 possessions, Simply brutal from the two top weapons on offense. The shooting and foul-drawing were fantastic, the defense was strong enough ... but turnovers destroyed the offense.

Some of that is the battle between Natt and Beno Udrih, who played less than 30 minutes despite good production. Kevin Martin's not a point guard. Neither is Francisco Garcia. We need Beno to play well, and we need Natt to play him in crunch time. John Salmons isn't exactly setting the world on fire in crunch time.

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Somehow, some way, we can blame Kenny Thomas for this

It’s just easier that way

Kevin’s mentality is that he is the man on this team and he wants to be the one with the ball at the end in a close game. There was a lot of drama about that at the end of last season if everyone remembers. So Kevin has been put in that position, but has missed most of the season. So the whole time he’s been out he’s watched bad endgame decisions. Don’t you think, that with his mentality, he’s been itching to be able to play in those tight games?

I do think that he should have passed it. But, what if Miller had missed. Everyone would be saying “Kevin should have shot” like during last year’s playoffs when Lebron passed it to an open player for a three pointer. Granted, this is a much smaller scale and much less important, but it’s the same. And when it comes down to it, even if Miller is shooting lights out, does anyone here really trust this team’s shooting at the end of close games?

www.mancancook.net

by vfettke on Jan 7, 2009 11:57 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

Not sure about the second guessing

I think in that situation, Kevin would have gotten a pass for dishing it out, just based on the amount of time left on the clock. I think even if he goes And-1 on that, it’s still a very questionable play.

More importantly, I thought he really hurt his ankle when he was fouled on that earlier three pointer – based on the subsequent inability to finish on the layup and his jumpshot from the baseline came up short. If he was hobbled, you really have to question his decision making on feeling he needed to be the guy to win or lose the game.

All in all I’m not sure it’s anything to get too worked up about. It was a bad play, I’m sure Kevin knew it as soon as it happened. I doubt we will see that on a regular basis.

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

by otis29 on Jan 7, 2009 12:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with the 2nd guessing

But that comes with being the man, and that’s what Kevin wanted.

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 7, 2009 2:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I recall

I recall an old commercial where Jordan was talking about how many game-winning shots he’d made in his career. But then he talked about how many game-winning shots he’d missed in his career.

You comment about Kevin being the man and wanting the ball in his hands, which is something we all begged for last season, reminded me of that. Kevin’s the guy who I want to be holding the ball with the game on the line. It’s not always going to mean victory, but the hope is that it results in more wins than losses. This is something Kevin will have in the back of his mind next time we’re down by 3.

Never forget: I am a complete idiot

by Exhibit G on Jan 7, 2009 5:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

It’s a learning experience for Kevin at this point. We do want the ball in Kevin’s hands but we also want him to make good decisions too. He’ll have many more opportunities.

by hozr on Jan 7, 2009 6:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

A Few Comments

The biggest consequence is that KM wants to be a leader of this team. Leaders who make can’t stay focused on the plan and make bone headed decisions like that one set a very bad example for the team.
I don’t see how KM could not have seen Brad Miller in the corner. He was driving left to right and Miller was in the right corner almost directly in line of sight. No, he chose not to pass the ball to Miller who was having a good shooting night.
Going for an And-1 play in that situation is an extremely low percentage play. Any defense knows that its better to allow a 2 point bucket in a 3 point game than to foul and risk a 3 point play.
In general KM seemed like he was trying way too hard last night, repeatedly trying to force plays and getting frustrated when the refs when they didn’t accomodate him. I got the impression he wanted a win very, very badly. So much so that he couldn’t relax and let the game come to him.
No way, no how has Beno earned the privelege to play at the end of games in crunch time yet. Natt does not need to play him there yet. Beno needs to suck it up and do the things his coaches are asking him to do. To his credit he has stepped his game up and is starting to do the things that have been asked of him but to my eye he hasn’t earned that level of trust yet.
I don’t care what Natt said to the newspapers it seemed pretty clear that Salmons got plenty of plays called for him in last night’s game, certainly a lot more than the previous game. Unfortunately, John’s shooting slump continues and he wasn’t able to capitalize on them. It’s on John now to work his way out of this slump. But, the offense appeared much better balanced last night across the entire team.

by hozr on Jan 7, 2009 1:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Bad decision

BMiller was wide open from his favorite 3 spot, had been shooting well all game and KM must have known he was there and open as hozr says.

If it had been Salmons driving into 3 guys we would be roasting him right now.

Leadership means more than scoring, it means making the right decisions, getting your team mates involved at key moments – making them better. Isn’t that the complaint we have with Salmons?

I’m not indicting him, just stating that this was the case in that game AGAIN last night, devolving into one on one play in crunch time and finding a way to lose because of it, and that one was definately on KM.

On hozr’s final point, I just don’t think (as I’ve said too many times) that Salmons and Km just don’t compliment each other.

I’d also like to add that Natt’s rotations don’t seem to make much sense to me as commented by Katie C last night.

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

by lietothegirls on Jan 7, 2009 2:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

KM will never be anything more than a scoring leader

If it wasn’t for the tech fouls we wouldn’t have needed to make a 3pt shoot, and team leaders don’t put their teams in that position.

Kevin is a great player to have on the team, but he’s not a complete player. His defense is suspect and from that aspect he’ll never be able to get in anyones face about defense. People who live in glass houses…. Kevin has never been a good rebounder or assist guy, and when the only thing you do well is score, you are never going to be able to lead the team by example.

The play was obviously called for him to shot a 3 or pass to one of the corners where Cisco & Miller could shot the 3, but he didn’t run the play as planned. Maybe he thought that if he made the basket there was enough time (9 sec.) to foul and get one more possession. I don’t know, but team leader don’t dismiss the coaches orders and take matter into their own hands.

I do know that if we did have a real team leader on this team, he would have gotten right into Kevins face and let him know that he screwed up.

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

by HighTops on Jan 7, 2009 2:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

In Kevin's defense

If it wasn’t for that Reggie Miller move to kick his legs out and get the foul call, there probably is no last shot.

Kevin is a star, but he has a long ways to go in some of the areas you mentioned to add a prefix to the word star.

Other than that, just a lot of growing pains to get through. He has the tools to get it right eventually.

Remember the crapfests we were suffering through a couple of weeks ago if you think the Kings would be better off without him. We just played four very competitive games on the road, and that’s not easy to do even for the best teams. Remember the Celtics’ last West Coast trip?

"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 7, 2009 6:56 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Very true

much better to have a shot at a win on the road than to get blown out in the 1st quarter at home.

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 Jan 8, 2009 4:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The Problem with #3 is...

… The defenders DID chalanged the shot. There might have been and-1 on that play if Martin was healthy. As it was, he lacked the lift to overcome the defender no matter what the reason. I understand that Martin wants to be the leader, and that is admirable, but the Right play was to go to a wide open Miller in the corner. If Miller misses that, you can say that Martin was covered up on the 3 at the top of the Key and Miller had the shot. As it is, we are left to wonder why Martin felt he had to go for an and-1 on that play. Is he THAT un-confident in his teammates? I hope that is not the case because the Kings have some players who can make that game ending shot. Martin has to be the FIRST option on the final play, but not necessarily the ONLY option.

by FaStRmAn on Jan 8, 2009 12:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He should have just shot the three

But that’s water under the bridge at this point.

"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 8, 2009 12:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I still have the tape

when he got the ball he was NOT open for the 3, whether by poor design or good D, Drew Gooden was looming over him (and no, you never get that forced shot call at the end of games).

As FaStRmAn says, the right play, win or lose, was the wide open short 3 by Bmiller in the corner.

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

by lietothegirls on Jan 8, 2009 2:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

He had separation and a clear shot. He just needed to jack it up. Once he passed on the shot, I agree the pass for the three was the play.

"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 8, 2009 2:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree?

I have it on tape and just looked again, it woud have been a forced 3.

At least we agree on the second point.

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

by lietothegirls on Jan 8, 2009 3:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

I think it would have been what you always ask for: a catch and shoot 3.

"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 8, 2009 3:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

yes, by someone other than our primary scorer

the guy who was open…

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

by lietothegirls on Jan 8, 2009 8:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Brad is actually a good catch and shoot guy

but we need a wing that can do it and instill fear in Ds

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

by lietothegirls on Jan 8, 2009 8:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If scoring is all Kevin Martin ever does

I’ll still be happy. What else do we have to go on at this point?

Shut up and Coach

by Carl on Jan 7, 2009 3:01 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ok...here's my problem with how Natt is handling Beno.

His short leash attitude doesn’t seem to really apply to everyone else on the team as much.

Now, it might be that Natt is purposely being hard on Beno to get more out of him. But he was playing good yesterday, he was producing and trying to be smart. Also, say what you will but the guy gets no help sometimes as far as assist go. He sets up people but they don’t drain their baskets. That’s not Beno’s fault.

I mean, I think Beno does have potential do be a solid back up pg. He just needs to adjust. It doesn’t help a PG when the lineup is constantly changing due to injuries, it doesn’t help a PG when there’s a coach change and you have to adapt to a new system.

These last few loses, I accredit to Salmons more than any other player. Ever since Martin came back, his offense has gone down the drain.

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

by Apoet on Jan 7, 2009 3:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Interesting points

I think the coach needs to either admit he treats guys differently based on their individual coaching needs (IMO the preferred method since different guys respond in different ways), or he should go with the Jerry Sloan “one size fits all” approach and not play favorites. If it’s the latter, he’s going to have a tough time maintaining respect from his players when he seems to favor or punish one differently than the others.

Honestly, Kenny Natt may be getting these guys back to basics and he may be getting them to play hard, but he’s pretty clearly overmatched right now from an X’s and O’s and rotation standpoint.

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

by otis29 on Jan 7, 2009 3:54 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Honestly, Kenny Natt may be getting these guys back to basics and he may be getting them to play hard, but he’s pretty clearly overmatched right now from an X’s and O’s and rotation standpoint.

I totally agree with this statement.

Never forget: I am a complete idiot

by Exhibit G on Jan 7, 2009 5:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

It bothers me that he doesn’t seem to have much game memory. Even right afterwards he doesn’t seem to able to recall clearly the plays and runs in the game that worked or failed.

if thats true, how can he manage from game-to-game?

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

by lietothegirls on Jan 7, 2009 5:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Natt

by his own admission is not a media guy. He’s not used to getting debriefed by the media immediately after the game.

by hozr on Jan 7, 2009 6:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Natt's handling the best way he knows how, but he's no Sloan

I think the way Natt is handling the problems that he sees, by reducing playing time, will tells us more about the players than about the coaches. With Natt being a lame duck coach, Beno could very well just say to help with Natt. Just wait it out tell Natt is replaced, because it probably isn’t fun playing right now anyways. BUT, and a very big BUT, if Beno does get it together, and does fight to keep his PT, then it tells us that Beno just isn’t playing for a big check. It tells us we’ve got a PLAYER on our team.

As far as Natt’s rotation, I can’t say I like the no PG rotation. I never felt Cisco was quick enough to defend PG’s. And, right now having returned from a leg injury, which he may not be fully recovered from, he definitely can’t stay in front of quick guards. And, I think it’s showing in the number of fouls that he is getting trying to defend.

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

by HighTops on Jan 7, 2009 4:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Cisco

I wish Cisco had been guarding Rose all night. He did a great job on keeping him away from the basket.

Agree on the points about Beno. He played very well last night and should have played more minutes. I’m as sentimental about BJax as anyone, but I still don’t want him being our primary ball handler. And if Salmons were shooting anywhere near decent, Beno’s assists would have been much higher.

I really hoped that we wouldn’t fire Theus until we had a real coach lined up to take over. How can you buy into a system being implemented by a guy who is essentially a lame duck from day one?

Coming to you live from the land of interim coaches.

by LeaguePassAddict on Jan 7, 2009 5:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Cisco

did a great job on Stuckey the other night too.

by hozr on Jan 7, 2009 6:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I really hoped that we wouldn’t fire Theus until we had a real coach lined up to take over. How can you buy into a system being implemented by a guy who is essentially a lame duck from day one?

And who admittedly isn’t changing much of Theus’s system. Theus was actually playing the young guys more than Natt is. FREE REGGIE.

Shut up and Coach

by Carl on Jan 7, 2009 9:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Natt is doing a good job

The team made adjustments, and pretty soon some fat guy with a goatee was shooting outside jumpers instead of Derrick Rose jamming it down our throat. Works for me.

"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 7, 2009 6:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I don’t have a big problem with Natt’s rotations or Xs and Os.

He’s doing what he needs to do. JT has gotten more time as he deserved it. When Brown plays well the leash is extended a little. He played Hawes/JT together for a significant stretch last night. Mikki is being phased into a role player. He’s done a good job with BobbyJ bringing him in when he needs fire or defense against PGs and letting him go when he has it rolling.

My only complaints I can immediately see, doubling Stuckey or putting Cisco on him sooner might have helped, and I also would like to see a little more discipline for Salmons/Cisco by using Greene when they do something stupid.

He’s in a very difficult situation for a lot of reasons, I think he’s done a very good job so far.

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

by ForThree on Jan 7, 2009 7:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Putting Cisco in sooner

I think Natt had the same take away and adjusted in the Bulls game when he put Cisco on Rose sooner than he did with Stuckey.

by hozr on Jan 8, 2009 10:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

I don’t know what Natt is thinking,

KennyT for 24 one night and zero the next? No minutes for BobbyJ – yet not finding a single minute for Donte’ in that game? No minutes for Donte’ at all lately when his last game was a 3-8 (1-3 from 3) one re bound effort against Boston? Not bad really when you consider that his job was to hit a few 3s…..

Beno showing some improvement with a 5 asst 1 TO effort and he still gets benched in that game?

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

by lietothegirls on Jan 8, 2009 2:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

C'mon now work with me here

I’m trying as hard as I can for any kind of positives I can find in this situation!

I agree with you that it’s absolutely terrible that Donte’ is getting zero burn time. He did seem to be making progress. I have a suspicion that Natt has avoided putting Donte’ into close games because he’s going for the win instead of player development which begs the question is he trying to win for morale purposes or just to get the win.

by hozr on Jan 8, 2009 2:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I was really disagreeing with CC and FThree there

and I feel your pain.

I agree with your Cisco comment.

I do worry he’s job hunting and thats too much on his mind. For Morale is a question too – but then why K9?
(sigh)

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

by lietothegirls on Jan 8, 2009 3:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The real world is a lot more complicated place than you think it is.

Natt is responsible to balance about two dozen egomaniacs with a variety of goals, needs, issues, etc.

Who knows why he played Thomas so much in one game? I don’t, you don’t either, but assuming he didn’t have a good reason is dangerous, assuming you give the guy any credit whatsoever.

When I look at my goals for this team and the administration of it, Natt is accomplishing the vast majority of them, and I’m not envious of the position he’s in.

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

by ForThree on Jan 9, 2009 9:57 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs

Agreed

and rec’d

by hozr on Jan 9, 2009 11:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

earth to mr petrie

i read this website most days because i am trying to somehow stay positive and this site helps sometimes. but how did we go from 4 and 5 to our current record?? musselman, theus, and now natt have not got it done. to me it is no longer the manager, it is the employees. i can not believe the maloofs are going to stand for a half empty arena the rest of the season and next season merely waiting for miller’s and thomas’s contract to come off the books so we can make the big free agent signing. hell, i have been to 6 games this year, my kids have had the pictures on the game tickets, we have jerseys, and autographs from martin, miller, bibby, douby, and even darius songalia displayed in our computer room. but if i am a diehard fan and i am getting tired of the bs. i have to believe there are lots of other fans like me who feel the same way. what the hell is petrie waiting for. keep hawes, thompson, green, and martin and everyone else is available along with our two draft picks. use the leftovers and the draft picks if needed to get something done. i know he will not do anything stupid, but the season is getting close to a total waste. hell at this point i am willing to take on the eddie curry and larry hughes of the world for the right deal. wait, we may get worse?? when donnie walsh, rod higgins, and dumars and the denver gm are pulling the trigger to make their teams better, where the hell was petrie??? grow a pair of gonads and get something done.

by noreboundsnorings on Jan 7, 2009 8:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Agree with the general sentiment

But Eddy Curry is f-ing useless. His softness, laziness and general cancer-like tendencies actually make him worse than useless – he’s subtraction by addition. If he was an ending contract, sure. But otherwise, forget it.

Shut up and Coach

by Carl on Jan 7, 2009 9:48 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Right

You get pissed at Brad? Invite that guy in….

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

by lietothegirls on Jan 8, 2009 3:24 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

couldn't disagree more with noreboundsnorings

last thing to do now is panic and make bad moves.

Let’s show some ’nads by keeping our composure and riding out a sixty loss season and grabbing a stud in the draft.

Life is every mammal's journey from very very wet to very very dry.

by Holmdel on Jan 8, 2009 8:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Dude

This isn’t the same as texting. Try to make your posts more readable so that your point comes across the way you want it to.

The Shift and Enter keys are your friends.

Coming to you live from the land of interim coaches.

by LeaguePassAddict on Jan 8, 2009 10:17 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Maybe Kevin is on board with the Stephan Curry Aquisition Plan !!

I am here to tell you that Martin didn’t pass that ball, because Miller with all his flaws makes that wide open shot 7 out of 10 ( OK 5 out of 10, but those halftime specials during the game have me feeling better about Brad….NOT). Martin saw it was Miller, and decided that a jog to the rim and a hoisted brick that gets you closer to a top 3 pick is more important than a road win in a historically bad season. You have to weigh the worth of one lousy game vs the possiblity of getting an impact player in the draft. The last thing we need is another 7-15 draft pick “Piece”. The Kings are full of disconnected “Pieces” ( pieces of what you have to decide for yourselves…). They need some glue for those pieces to ever amount to anything. As of now, the Kings have no glue…..only pieces….

by FaStRmAn on Jan 8, 2009 11:56 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

So -

With the game on the line and time running down, Martin made the conscious effort to ignore a Miller and go to the rim with the knowledge that driving to the hoop and missing the shot while avoiding contact would ensure the addition of Stepen Curry.

Wow. Just, wow.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jan 8, 2009 12:29 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

Come on section

You’re not an anti-conspiracy theorist are ya? Maybe this is too big for you, you know that? It’s a mystery! It’s a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma! The f-ing players don’t even know, don’t you get it?

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

by otis29 on Jan 8, 2009 1:32 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs