When Reality Attacks

by Ziller on Mar 14, 2009 6:41 AM PDT in Recaps Comment 38 comments

We are the angry hippo.

The lions prepare to feast on the carcass they have studied from afar. Unexpectedly, we rise to the challenge, vital and fierce. Eventually, we get bored and/or scared and go show for a swim. The lions feast.

Last week, Bill Simmons wrote an excellent column about a Cavs-Clippers game in which, with the Clips leading by double digits with seven minutes left, fans at Staples Center began discussing how the home team would lose. You're a liar or a neo-romantic if you didn't have a thought or two during the fourth quarter about a potential Kings loss.

But here's what makes Kings fandom a better deal than Clippers fandom: you could also see scenarios in which the Kings would win! I mean, Kevin Martin was an absolute monster heading into the few minutes (when, not coincidentally, he retracted from Beast Status as LeBron switched onto him). The front line (especially [ahem] Jason Thompson) had a strong night, Andres Nocioni looked like his head could pop off any moment, Bobby Jackson and Will Solomon came out like Wolverine and Nightcrawler. The team played at such a high level that a win seemed not only possible, but plausible!

Or maybe I'm just one of the neo-romantics I mercilessly mock.

Final - 3.13.2009	1	2	3	4	OT 1	Total
Cleveland Cavaliers	28	32	24	32	10	126
Sacramento Kings	32	27	39	18	7	123

Complete Coverage >

* Kenny Natt, for all intents and purposes, ensured the Kings will have a new head coach next season. I'll credit two decisions, both pertaining to (you guessed it) Thompson.

Through three quarters, Thompson was a +30 in the ledger, with 19 points (on 12 FGAs), five rebounds, two assists, a block and zero turnovers. He played rather good (active, certainly) defense and very sleek offense. He had been, to that point, Sacramento's best player. He didn't get back into the game until there were 24 seconds left. A 14-point lead at the quarter break turned into a tied game during that span.
To open the second half, the Kings ran a beautiful (beautiful!) Princeton set. I'm not a fortune teller, but I'm rather certain that's a Pete Carril play. Not a Kenny Natt: Disciple of Sloan play. The play ended (after about 20 perfect passes) with a Thompson-to-Nocioni lay-up. Jason Thompson ran the high post beautifully, and the team ran the Princeton beautifully. That play was basically the only endorsement for Eddie Jordan that you should need. </soapbox>

But the key here is that Joe and Gavin Maloof saw all of this. They might be inarticulate on the radio and TV, but they aren't stupid. They saw the egregious mistake and the beautiful possibilities. The Kings will have a new coach this summer.

* Waiting for LeBron to switch onto Martin was like doing blow off railroad tracks. You know that train is coming, but there's no sense in worrying about it til it happens, right? Right <train horn> "Oh shi..."

* Speaking of which: a couple weeks ago, I asked we tone down the cursing in the game threads. Last night: 78 f-bombs in the thread. I'm frowning right now. Maybe you can't see it (I hope you can't see it, you stalker freak), but I am frowning. So (ahem): please chill on the cursing. The English language is full of so many colorful words. In fact, I'm handing out recs for non-curse colorful words going forward. Be colorful without being blue!

* Finally, Nocioni didn't stop LeBron (of course). But if you watched, you know that he gave every ounce of himself for this game. ~~Sam Amick~~ Melody Gutierrez has a great quote from Noce.

"I left my effort, my energy, everything on the floor, but it was for nothing because LeBron played really well. I tried to play physical, but he's really big. He's strong, fast. It's really frustrating for people like me to try to stop him because you cannot do it."

When you're a bad, no-good, awful team, the little things become big. Nocioni's never-quit attitude might sour Bulls fans that want their players to make the exactly correct play every time. But here in Sacramento, we'll take unbridled passion. Well done, Andres.

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wow, way to twist the facts ziller

I mean, total disregard for journalism integrity. 78 f-bombs? 78?!?

You are clearly disregarding the inflation rate of certain posts, and not pointing out that fact to us is dishonest. You’re like the headliner who touts Z-Bos 24 points but hides his 27 shot attempts: egregious. You need to stop biasing your posts and present the news fairly. And don’t pretend you weren’t aware. We’ve seen you tout stats, we’ve seen your graphs. You know your way around an excel sheet Ziller, so don’t provide just half the story.

All things considered, I felt our commentors made a great effort, but it is hard to not exclaim in either despair or shock when Lebron James turns into King James. To expect flawless commentation, elegant replies and troll defense on top of dealing with the calamity of watching James do whatever he wants is TOO MUCH! I, for one, refuse to accept this moderator tyranny. Naturally, I will respond with more commenting and posting in these moderated forums!

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all posters are not equal, but other than trolls we’re endowed (hehe, endowed) by our Internet Connection with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Opinions, the Right to say those opinions, and to curse if we must.

Don’t make me submit the facts, Ziller, for I shall submit so many facts as to warrant usurpation of your server. Declaration of Expletive Dependence!

Yeah, I went there.

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

by iashwash on Mar 14, 2009 7:16 AM PDT reply actions 4 recs

You win

iashwash, The Ben Franklin of Internet Freedom to Use F-Boms.

by Ziller on Mar 14, 2009 7:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fargin' Iceholes

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Mar 14, 2009 8:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love that movie

stupid – but I loved it.

I did indeed drop a bomb towards the end if the game. Is it still and F – bomb if I leave off the trailing ‘g’? Just F-in’ DO IT! was my sin. With the game on the line – no, I have no shame.

So imitate the action of the tiger!
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favoured rage.
- lend the eye a terrible aspect,

Now set the teeth - and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Mar 14, 2009 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also lit theory sez:

Sign, Signifier, & Referent.

If we use F*** instead of Blue, but we know they “signify” the same thing, what’s the point? Either way they’re just words, pixels on a screen, not real penises entering vaginae. We should really be concerned about the Referent of losing, which is what this season seems to be all about. And indeed we are concerned with this mainly, as we continue to watch it happen before our eyes.

If yr not happy with the results, lower yr expectations.

by tokyo on Mar 14, 2009 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brilliant

rec’d

Never forget: I am a complete idiot

by Exhibit G on Mar 14, 2009 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You had me at

Kenny Natt, for all intents and purposes, ensured the Kings will have a new head coach next season.

Coming to you live from the land of interim coaches.

by LeaguePassAddict on Mar 14, 2009 7:22 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You’re spot on about the ways that the Kings could have won this one. I watched the Clippers. I watched the Suns. But when the Cavs were down 14 against the Kings, I turned off the TV.

I just didn’t think they had it in them again. Not sure why the player-coach LeBron James waited so long to guard Martin, but it worked. That up and under thing will get blocked nine of 10 times.

http://www.waitingfornextyear.com

by scottsargent on Mar 14, 2009 8:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Options

Interesting take on Jason Thompson not playing much in the fourth. The question is whose place do you want him to take.

The Kings started the fourth up 14 points with:

Solomon PG
McCants SG
Garcia SF
Nocioni PF
Hawes C

McCants missed a couple of bombs, and the unit was outscored 6-2 before Martin and Jackson replaced McCants and Solomon. They were still up 10.

The questionable substitution was bringing Donte Greene in for Nocioni with 7:10 left and the Kings up 11. But you guys want Donte Greene to play, right? Play he did. When he and Bobby Jackson were replaced with Solomon and Thompson with 24 seconds left, it was tied.

The Cavs played most of the 4th with a small lineup and Varejao as their only big. LeBron was basically playing PF. Probably Thompson should have played instead of Hawes? Maybe Garcia could have played less?

Bottom line: LeBron did what LeBron does, and it’s doubtful playing Jason Thompson more in the 4th would have changed the result.

"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 Mar 14, 2009 8:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Respectfully disagree

While I think that we want to see Greene get minutes, for him to go from zero to crunch time is a bit on the ridiculous side, especially when it comes at the expense of your other rookie, who happens to be playing one of his best games of the season.

Perhaps it would not have changed the result, but Thompson had earned his spot on the floor during crunch time.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Mar 14, 2009 8:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

this.

Seriously, how does Greene get 0 minutes when we’re down 20 in the 4th in other games, but then late in the 4th against the best or 2nd best team in the league in a close game, ah, what the hell, toss him in there? WTF Natt?

by Viliphied on Mar 14, 2009 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No kidding! - both of you are on the mark there.

Nothing to add to that

So imitate the action of the tiger!
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favoured rage.
- lend the eye a terrible aspect,

Now set the teeth - and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Mar 14, 2009 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Douby II

You do no one a favor by putting in a raw youngster into crunch time when he has barely played the last few weeks. Greene had a rough second quarter, and a couple minutes in the fourth would have been more than enough. Keep playing him in the second, maybe late first. Get him in the fourth when the opponent isn’t a championship contender with the greatest player in the world making a charge to come back.

We wanted Douby to get more minutes, too. But we didn’t want them to come in the closing seconds, taking the shot with the game on the line. Build the experience, build up to something. Don’t just throw them in the deep end.

by Ziller on Mar 14, 2009 8:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

that is an apt comparison

I am very concerned that Donte is looking very Q-like. More to the point, he is being played by Coach Natt much like Coach Theus and Douby.

I can’t figure out why JT was benched. He was fouling, he starting talking to himself alot, but he was playing well. Donte looked lost and seemed to wonder why he was out there himself. He played with effort but was involved in little of the flow of the game. His tip in and assist were both nice, but he did little else while out there.

Nocioni was a joy to watch. He did not back down from LeBron and he got the rough end of many calls but he battled every (slipping) inch of the way.

The rest of the Cavs team, btw, did little to impress and at the end just seemed to clear out the ball for LBJ. Varajeo hustled and found ways to make himself useful – rebounding well, trying to find a way to be open under the basket. All-Star Mo Williams after his 43 last outing against the Kings was a non factor and he knew it (the guy sitting 3 seats over yelled “1 for 6” and Williams surprisingly responded – you could tell he was disappointed)

Hey, did anyone ever figure out what prompted the Coach Brown meltdown?

by betweentheeyes on Mar 14, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He thought

that Mo Williams was fouled on his preceding drive. After Crawford gave him the first T, Brown went nuts.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Mar 14, 2009 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i thought he was going to start going Sprewell

it wasn’t a bad no call, so it was just acting. Wow, along with fines, they should give him an Oscar.

by betweentheeyes on Mar 14, 2009 6:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great post, great effort froim the team.

Not meant to diss anybody but do the Kings seem more cohesive lately? could thisgroup be more than the sum of its parts?

There can only be one Noce!

by NoceOne on Mar 14, 2009 9:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

They definitely play a lot better together

I don’t think we’ve been really blown out of the water since the trade. (maybe Pacers game)

by Aykis16 on Mar 14, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Greene played

extensive minutes in the 2nd and 4th quarters. The Kings were subsequently outscored in those quarters. Greene’s +/-? -20.

Poor coaching by Natt or tank job?

Frank Army

by BPaoliano on Mar 14, 2009 9:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

considering how desperate the maloofs are to generate profit

and nothing gets the fans excited more than a win against a great team, I’d bet the farm the higher ups are certainly not encouraging losing.

I’ve touted the “tanking” line before, but that was always in jest. The best thing for the Kings right now is to win some games, and generate a buzz that these kids can play.

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

by iashwash on Mar 14, 2009 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only 8 home games left

One is against the Lakers and another is Vlade retirement game, and both should be sold out. So, what’s going to generate more money to the Maloofs, a few thousand more seats sold for the remaining 6 games because the teams playing better, Or the #1 pick in the draft.

I know it’s in the best interest of the Maloof’s to tank. The players aren’t going to tank, especially the expiring contracts that will be looking for new deals. So, the coach is the only one who can tank for the FO. You know, by forgetting to play a hot player, or resting someone that could help. But, what’s in it for the coach to tank, unless the FO made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

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

by HighTops on Mar 14, 2009 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

no tanking

not in front of the Boss(es) with a great chance to win against a top team. Just bad coaching decisions.

Including the ridiculous Kevin Martin one on one clear out against LeBron with 5 seconds in regulation.

by betweentheeyes on Mar 14, 2009 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

+1

100% agreed. You are wise grasshopper

Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Mar 14, 2009 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A pick and roll with Spencer

coulda been the ticket there.

"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 Mar 14, 2009 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

even Danger! Will Solomon! Danger!

would have been better

by betweentheeyes on Mar 14, 2009 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Bobby calls timeout at the end of regulation

We probably win that game…so why would we be tanking in overtime, but not in regulation? Unless Bobby’s cheek getting broken was part of the plan.

Lonely people mixing with one another? Breeding? Creating an even lonelier generation? You're not allowing natural selection to do its work. You're like the guy that invented the seat belt.

by otis29 on Mar 14, 2009 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was a key moment unfortunately

So imitate the action of the tiger!
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favoured rage.
- lend the eye a terrible aspect,

Now set the teeth - and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Mar 14, 2009 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No one has suggested that the players are TANKING.

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

by HighTops on Mar 14, 2009 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My opinion of the game last night

was summed up in my 200 F-Bombs.

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.....

I am the stone that builder refused..I am the visual...The inspiration..That made lady sing the blues....I'm the spark that makes your idea bright.....The same spark that lights the dark....So that you can know your left from your right...I am the ballot in your box....The bullet in your gun...The inner glow that lets you know...To call your brother son....The story that just begun...The promise of what's to come...And I'm 'a remain a soldier till the war is won....

by pookeyguru on Mar 14, 2009 11:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't short yourself

You had at least a mole.

by propane on Mar 14, 2009 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And, we all thank you for exercising greater than normal restraint ;p)

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

by HighTops on Mar 14, 2009 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The sad part

Is we probably would have won with a real coach on the bench. (sigh)

by Aykis16 on Mar 14, 2009 1:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

How may ways could we say the same thing for?

Maybe this team is not AS bad as it looks

"Let's stop arguing and get together and agree on who really is the problem: PEACHES" - HighTops

by eduardo_m7 on Mar 15, 2009 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I watched the game with friends, so I couldnt follow online with you all

I was actually very pleased with the game. The team played HARD. That is what I want from these last 17 games. Unstoppable effort. We may not win many (any?) games, but if the guys bust their @sses, they wont get embarrassed. Staying close against tier one opponents like that will pay off in the long run.

A few things that stuck out in my mind during last nights game
   Kevin Martin’s defense (and overall effort) has really improved since B52 left. They may be completely unrelated, but the timing in inarguable.
  Kevin Martin needs to stop going for the foul at the end of the games. This was my only, but HUGE, complaint about him. You are not going to get the call son. Take it strong or go up for the jumper, just dont look to get bailed out.
  Jason Thompson looks like him might be ready to make the leap from promising rookie, to promising young player. Their is a difference, and I would argue that less than 50% of the “promising rookies” ever make the jump. Maybe 50% of them make the jump to all-star status. I dont know if Shock will make the next leap, but he is going in the right direction.
  Kenny Natt is a bad coach.
  But he may be hampered by our current situation. While I am not convinced that he has been told to tank (yet, but we’ll se how Sunday goes), his number 1 objective may no longer be winning. (There is a difference, stay with me). I think Petrie and the organization wants to see what we’ve got. That may mean playing different players in different positions and times. That is no excuse for benching Speed or forgetting about Shock or throwing Donte’ in at the wrong time…. where was I going with this? Oh well, Kenny Natt is a bad coach.

All in all, I am cool with losing last night. I hope Bjax heals relatively quickly. I know he is going to look bad @ss in his Hannibal Lector mask (we all know he aint going to just shut it down for the year)

Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Mar 14, 2009 1:13 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Plus..

…while it may not have been plausible, you’ve got to like the teams willingness to try and pull off the seemingly impossible.

Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Mar 14, 2009 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I'm not sure this is important to say

But I liked every point you made, and particularly, the point about Martin. (Awesome comment 27. And if I may so, you don’t make many of them. MORRRREEEE!!!)

Kevin Martin needs to stop going for the foul at the end of the games. This was my only, but HUGE, complaint about him. You are not going to get the call son. Take it strong or go up for the jumper, just dont look to get bailed out.

This bothered me for 2 reasons. One, is that when it comes to talent, and name recognition, LeBron will get the best of you. The difference between a guy like LeBron and Speed at that moment was pretty obvious. LeBron is a superstar; he knows it, and acts like he knows it. Kevin is desperately searching for the recognition. You can’t be in that level of player until you know it FIRST.

The other part, basketball related, is the part in why he did an up and under fake 20 feet away from the hoop. I didn’t understand it then watching live, and I don’t understand it now with 24 hrs+ of separation. It was a dumb move, and one made out of desperation. If Speed wants to make that next step (and I’m not sure he will—which is another argument), then he’ll have to learn the difference. If that ballhandling never comes, I’m afraid the end of regulation on Friday Night will end up being routine as every opponent will make Speed put it on the floor to beat them, and not just with 5 seconds left on the game clock.

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.....

by pookeyguru on Mar 15, 2009 2:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kevin Martin is oft compared to Rip Hamilton and Reggie Miller

for his style. But there is a huge difference in “star” quality between Rip and Reggie. Kevin is definitley more Rip Hamilton (I think he is a better than Rip, but that is beside the point). I think Kevin Martin has reached his ceiling or is very close. I don’t think he lacks confidence.

The swagger you describe PG is a good one. Kevin is a star for the Kings, and knows it, LeBron is a superstar for the league and we all know it.

by betweentheeyes on Mar 15, 2009 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

As an aside

I’ve been to Kruger National Park. Lovely place. The rest of South Africa, outside of parts of Pretoria and Cape Town? Shite holes, for the most part.

Lonely people mixing with one another? Breeding? Creating an even lonelier generation? You're not allowing natural selection to do its work. You're like the guy that invented the seat belt.

by otis29 on Mar 14, 2009 1:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs