There's a team who's better at losing than the Kings!

by Ziller on Jan 19, 2007 8:36 PM PST in Recaps Comment 21 comments

And that team is the Boston Celtics.

I only caught the fourth quarter, so:

The Ronhawk is awesome in every way imaginable. This includes the fact that it was Mike Bibby who performed the barbery.
Kevin Martin's fourth: 12 pts, 5-5 shooting.
That shutdown defense we've seen in spurts from Francisco Garcia? It's real.

It's almost like Musselman said: "Kevin, you score. Francisco, you shut down West. Everyone else, don't do anything stupid." Guess what? It worked! Cheers for that.

Long live the Ronhawk.

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Re: There's a team ...

Well, the fourth quarter is the only one we won, TZ, so don't worry about missing out too much. I don't care who we beat - we didn't beat ourselves this time. YEA KINGS!

by pyro on Jan 19, 2007 9:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Damn! I blinked and missed the awesome
Garcia defense. It must have been something because I thought West had a pretty respectable game for a guy just coming back from an injury. You don't suppose having missed a few games might have something to do with him running out of gas in the 4th do you? The Celtics sure had Sharif's number. The game could have gone either way and the team without half their roster injured prevailed.

by Observer on Jan 20, 2007 8:26 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

stop blinking for so long, you'll miss out

No horrible quarters this game. That was a nice surprise.

Cisco's defense on West wasn't just good - it was smothering. And Observer, I guess you blinked for an entire quarter because the only time West had a decent look at the basket is when Garcia switched off of him.

Garcia is clearly the second best defender on this team when you include his ability to block shots and rebound. (Salmons is a close third.)

by Kusian on Jan 20, 2007 9:46 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: stop blinking for so long, you'll miss out

If Garcia is the second best defender on this team, we are in more trouble than I thought. You had better tell Mussleman as he doesn't seem that impressed since Garcia is riding the pine most of the time.

by Observer on Jan 20, 2007 12:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: stop blinking for so long, you'll miss out

That Garcia played zero minutes prior to the fourth, and Musselman needed someone to stop West, so he put in Garcia for the entire fourth... that tells me he knows Garcia is a great defender.

by Ziller on Jan 20, 2007 1:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: stop blinking for so long, you'll miss out

Or how about that the Muscleman knew West was tiring just coming off an injury and decided a fresh body that had his duff planted for three quarters might be able to contain him. He looks down the bench and there are his choices, Hart or Garcia.

by Observer on Jan 20, 2007 2:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: stop blinking for so long, you'll miss out

I think there is validity to your "fresh legs" theory. However, you unwillingness to acknowledge that Garcia is a good 1 on 1 defender seems pointless. Anybody who has watched him play the last two seasons know this to be true, and the King's brass all believe it to be the case. But, hey, maybe you know more than Petrie, Reynolds, and the coaching staff.

by Kusian on Jan 21, 2007 6:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: stop blinking for so long, you'll miss out

But, hey, maybe you know more than Petrie, Reynolds, and the coaching staff.

I'll just file that away until you come up with your next anti-Musselman rant. :)

Seriously though, if that is your criteria, we'd better close down the board immediately.

by otis29 on Jan 21, 2007 8:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: stop blinking for so long, you'll miss out

Yeah, you just totally nailed me on the inconsistency. Damn it! :-)

(After I posted that comment, I re-read it and thought that either you or somebody else was gonna shove that right back down my throat.)

by Kusian on Jan 22, 2007 10:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: stop blinking for so long, you'll miss out

Your comment, "But hey, maybe you know more than Petrie, Reynolds, and the caching staff," made my day. After your constant tirade opposing Mr. Musselman, I question your creditability.

Garcia does have some defensive skills but I wouldn't call him "great" just yet.

by aspen on Jan 22, 2007 6:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: stop blinking for so long, you'll miss out

Fair

by Kusian on Jan 22, 2007 10:49 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: stop blinking for so long, you'll miss out

PEACE

by aspen on Jan 22, 2007 7:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: stop blinking for so long, you'll miss out

I don't need to: Muss already typically utilizes Garcia for defenses purposes.

by Kusian on Jan 21, 2007 6:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: stop blinking for so long, you'll miss out

Exceedingly limited defensive purposes. Just exactly how much impact do you think Garcia had on the Detroit game? Now you are accusing me of knowing more than Mussleman but yet Mussleman doesn't play Garcia that much. Maybe you better fill him in on this insight you have. You explain to the coach and us why Garcia should be in the starting lineup. Particularly explain how a team like the Kings can afford a defensive only player. I have heard of specialist but a defensive only player is a new one on me.

by Observer on Jan 21, 2007 8:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: stop blinking for so long, you'll miss out

For the record, I don't think Garcia belongs in the starting lineup, and he's not as good a defender as Artest. But he has a lot of on-ball defensive talent and the potential for greatness.

by Ziller on Jan 22, 2007 7:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: stop blinking for so long, you'll miss out

I think you were right (was it you that said it) in your Bruce Bowen comparison. He seems to have the skills necessary to become that kind of lockdown defender.

He still needs to work on his shot, and his shot selection though.

by otis29 on Jan 22, 2007 12:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: There's a team who's better at losing than the

You mean winning?

Right now I'm considering losses as wins and wins as losses. I'm sorry to the fellow Kings fans who do not support this type of thinking.

by kingme18 on Jan 20, 2007 10:00 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: There's a team who's better at losing than the

I was happy Bibby only saw 31 mins. of defenseless action. Good work, Muss

by kingme18 on Jan 20, 2007 10:02 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Re: There's a team who's better at losing than the

I was happy that he only tried one shot in the fourth quarter (blocked on the way up, but recovered by Bibby, and THANK GOD, passed to Artest). This "strategy" is simple math, (lowest shooting %) = (least shots). I propose more of the same from here on out.

by dccamp on Jan 20, 2007 10:11 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: There's a team who's better at losing than the

He really wasn't looking to shot. He actually played like a point guard.

The ran their open offense most of the 4th, so Bibby could have taken shots but made the right passes instead. (He was being covered pretty well off the pick-n-roll.)

Glad he decided to control himself and use his teammates.

by Kusian on Jan 20, 2007 10:23 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs