Kings Links, Oct. 20: Preparing for Phoenix

by Tom Ziller on Oct 20, 2009 9:03 AM PDT in Links

Sacramento Bee: Suns offer Kings tough test of Carril's lessons
Some notes on tonight's Suns game, along with some tidbits on how Pete Carril operates under Paul Westphal.

Kings Blog and Q&A: Mason impresses Westphal without impressive stats
NBA FanHouse: Mason Looking Like Kings' Starting SF
A pair of pieces in which Westphal says nice things about Desmond Mason.

Kings.com: JT, Tyreke Ready to Run with Suns
Jason Thompson and Tyreke Evans talk about the Suns. Evans discusses how he thinks he can get to Steve Nash.

Sacramento Bee: Kings' Casspi mourns friend
Omri Casspi comments on the passing of Moni Fanan, the longtime face of Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Sac Rag: Sacramento Brewing Company RIP
One of the town's best spots has closed. :-(

Basketball-Reference.com Blog: Quality of Teammates Revisited
Neil Paine has a killer look at teammate quality. Shareef Abdur-Rahim got screwed by the NBA Gods.

Add your own links in the comments.

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Canadian Celebrity Steve Nash

I’m sure everyone has seen this video on TV, but for anyone that hasn’t, it’s pretty good of Nash. I know this doesn’t apply to the kings, but we are playing phoenix, and nash is on phoenix, so…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxZkaEge0R8&feature=player_embedded

And I'm like one of the most ghetto-ist guys in the NBA. - Ron Artest

by Kingsfan banished to AZ on Oct 20, 2009 11:09 AM PDT reply actions

are you going to the game?

gonna give us a recap?

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Oct 20, 2009 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions

I wish

But I’m actually back in sacramento now. I just haven’t figured out a way to change it without creating a new account. So I guess that means I have to move back to AZ at some point…

And I'm like one of the most ghetto-ist guys in the NBA. - Ron Artest

by Kingsfan banished to AZ on Oct 20, 2009 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions

If you go into the edit account of your SBN dashboard

You can change the name kfbta.

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 20, 2009 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions

Didn't know that

I’ve been thinking about changing my name too. Thanks for the tip

The future begins now...

by eduardo_m7 on Oct 20, 2009 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions

You might wanna ask Sroufe how to do it if you don't do it right the first time

He’s one person I know for sure knows how to do it.

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 20, 2009 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Petrie and Mason mentioned in Paine's analysis of teamate suck-differential

Petrie had one of the suckiest supporting casts (even now, as GM).

As for Mason

And now…YOUR 6’7" starting forward, from Oklahoma State University…Basketball-Reference.com’s 20th worst player to hold his teammates back….DESMOOOOOOND MAAAAAAAAASOOOOOOON!!!!!!!

by clicc916 on Oct 20, 2009 11:10 AM PDT reply actions

I liked the things Casspi had to say

sounds like he’s working hard.

I didn’t like the things PW said and seemed to say about Donte’. Turn the IPOD off and study the opponent dude. It should be clear by now you can’t get away with just your athleticism on this level.

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Oct 20, 2009 11:42 AM PDT reply actions

What PW said was that Donte needs to learn how to take away opponent's strengths defensively

He made the iPod joke about nobody in particular.

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 20, 2009 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Maybe reading too much into it - or just between the lines

You learn to take away an opponents best move by studying them. He went out of is way to say Donte’ didn’t do that and then later said players need to turn off thier IPODS and study film.
Anyway, it could be either of those things I said above, but it felt directed at Donte’ to me. Maybe just my frustration that Donte’ hasn’t gotten much better yet.

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Oct 20, 2009 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Did you honestly believe that he would suddenly flip the switch and become a new player?

If you did believe that, I think there’s a lot of self deception and expectation on your part.

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 20, 2009 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd settle for some small visible steps in a positive direction

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Oct 20, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions

As would I

But, I get the feeling that he’s making those steps. PW is trying to get him to recognize what it takes to be successful at the NBA level.

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 20, 2009 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Show it to me in game minutes Donte'!

I guess I’m pretty down on him. We desperately need he and the other young guys to start/continue to develop and contribute in a positive way.

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Oct 20, 2009 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions

If they were doing that lttg

The Kings might be where OKC is right now.

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 20, 2009 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Very true Pookey

This is something I’ve been thinking for a while with all the criticism this team gets. If every young player was playing to his potential, contributing positive things, and developing everyday, then we just wouldn’t be one of the worst teams in the league. But we are, and that’s just reality.

Now, I’m sure lttg, you didn’t mean that all of our young players needed to realize their potential right now and that they needed to be solid contributors right away, but I hope you know where I’m coming from with my previous paragraph. It’s not really about Donte’s (well warranted) criticism, but more about where ths team is at.

If Hawes was a good interior defender, and if Reke had fewer turnovers and better 3 point shooting, and if Speed played better defense, and if JT had a left hand, and if Donte contributed something, and if Beno was better at running the fastbreak, and if Sergo could shoot, then we would be in the playoffs and contending for a championship. Sometimes expectations are just not aligned with the reality of the situation IMHO.

We are who we are right now. We can’t change that all of a sudden.

The future begins now...

by eduardo_m7 on Oct 20, 2009 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Thank You for articulating that

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 20, 2009 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions

I just want contributions, positive ones

especially from a player whos had a year to start making adjustments. I’m by no means saying I want him to play like a future Star, I know where we’re at – but I’d sure like him to start playing like someone who seems to have a future at this level.

A good rotation here and there against other teams 2nd string guys I think is not a ridiculous expectation at this point.

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Oct 20, 2009 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Gotta diagree about the 2nd year thing

Every player was hurt by the Theus/Natt regime last season, but there is no question that Donte Greene was hurt more than any other single player.

PW is basically treating Greene as a rookie (which he pretty much is), and Greene is going to have to fight for his minutes. Maybe officially this is Greene’s 2nd year, but realistically it is really his rookie season being repeated.

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 20, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Agreed

Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.

by Aykis16 on Oct 20, 2009 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions

I really thought of a better way to describe this

This is Donte’s redshirt Rookie season.

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 20, 2009 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree lttg

and that’s why I made sure to say it wasn’t really about your comment but more about the recent criticism on this team. I was mostly trying to add to Pookey’s OKC comment.

The future begins now...

by eduardo_m7 on Oct 20, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions

But having said what I just did

I don’t think that expectation is truly unreasonable in a few months either.

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 20, 2009 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions

What link are these ipod comments coming from?

Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.

by Aykis16 on Oct 20, 2009 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions

kings.com

as linked by TZ above. Comments from PW, JT, Tyreke – yesterday I guess

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Oct 20, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions

PW mentioned it in his chat with Nicholson and a couple other voices I don't recognize

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 20, 2009 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Looking at the Basketball-Reference stat

Something interesting to note is that over his career, Chris Webber had a bigger defensive impact for his team than Shaquille O’Neal, and that would include the years where Webber was a defensive sieve.

Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.

by Aykis16 on Oct 20, 2009 11:58 AM PDT reply actions

And Vlade Divac is just under Tyson Chandler.

Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.

by Aykis16 on Oct 20, 2009 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions

That's because Shaq is a fat piece of shit

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 20, 2009 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions

"The Big Shit"

Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.

by Aykis16 on Oct 20, 2009 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Hahahahah yeah

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 20, 2009 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I liked this line in particular

With a dynamic game, when asked if he would rather knock down a game-winning shot or lockdown his man on defense, Evans didn’t hesitate.

"Lock him down defensively," Evans said smiling. "If I lock him down defensively, we shouldn’t have to hit a game-winning shot."

by babasin on Oct 20, 2009 12:01 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

That made me laugh too

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

Maybe the they should run public service announcements- starring Francisco Garcia and Sean May (as the expected mother), warning of the dangers of big blue balls. -- JJham15 10/13/09

by pookeyguru on Oct 20, 2009 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions

So true though. It will certainly be interesting tonight.

October 28th couldn't come soon enough.

by JETisKing on Oct 20, 2009 6:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Evolution

"I’m going to try and attack (Amare Stoudemire) to get him out of the game because they don’t have that many veteran bigs out there now that they don’t have the Big Cactus anymore, so we should take advantage of that," Thompson, who had 20 points and 20 rebounds against the Warriors, said.

This statement seems rather novel from our young group. JT has gone from ’I’m going to try to just hang with Amare’ to ’I’m going to try to outplay Amare’. I like it; and I’m interested to find out how it turns out…

It’s also interesting to think that anyone familiar with the Kings thinks of frontcourt depth as a relative strength…even compared to the Suns.

by DustyG on Oct 20, 2009 2:23 PM PDT reply actions