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By VF21 at 04/19/2008 - 00:08
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Garth Brooks could have summed up the feelings of a lot of Kings fans with his song, "The Dance." As he said, "I could have missed the pain, but I would have had to miss the dance."
This wasn't a successful season, if you judge success by wins and losses. It wasn't a successful season, if you judge success by sellouts of Arco Arena.
But are those the only yardsticks for measuring the success or failure of a season?
I don't think so.
The 2007-2008 season for the Sacramento Kings was a success if you want to talk about things like heart and hustle. We saw that from our team this year. It was a success if you want to talk about things like improvement and entertainment.
It wasn't always easy to watch the Kings this year but it was truly an improvement over last year. I coined the term "heart and hustle" early in the year as being an objective for this current crop of Kings. I think they stepped up and met the objective and then some.
Kings fans could have been spared the pain if they didn't watch but they would have missed the good things:
- Watching Kevin Martin continue to improve and refine his game.
- Watching the return of Brad Miller to a point where many thought he was playing the best basketball of his career.
- Watching fans return to Arco to enjoy the game AND cheer on the team.
- Watching Spencer Hawes as he took the first steps towards what could end up being a very long and successful career.
- Watching Beno Udrih flourish beyond all expectations.
- Watching John Salmons as a starter show his true potential.
No, it wasn't a successful season but it was a step back in the right direction.
And that's good enough for now.
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By VF21 at 04/11/2008 - 21:06
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Just like the last few days of your senior year in high school, the last week of the season for the Sacramento Kings isn't about getting ready for the future. It's about finishing what has been an interesting time. It's about having fun and hopefully entertaining the fans that come out to support you.
And what about the players currently wearing the uniform of the Sacramento Kings?
Spencer Hawes definitely seems to have the potential to be a good center.
Francisco Garcia actually improved his game by slowing things down just a bit.
Kevin Martin continued to expand his game and further shed the "one dimensional" tag, at least in the minds of many.
Shelden Williams, a late addition to the Kings, is interesting, to say the least.
Beno Udrih has the makings of another Petrie gem in the Kings jewelry box. It certainly wouldn't be the first time Geoff took someone out of their living rooms and into the NBA to good advantage.
Ron Artest is the ultimate puzzle. No one - arugably not even Ron - knows for sure what he'll do when it comes time to finally decide whether he wants to stay or opt out. Either way, he'll continue to be the center of a LOT of discussion and heated (but civil) debate. It's just his nature - and that of Kings fans.
Brad Miller certainly redeemed himself in the eyes of most fans. To see someone rededicate themselves to their sport is a rarity. It was good to see that someone be in the uniform of the Sacramento Kings.
Mikki Moore and John Salmons have shown usefulness but are definitely somewhat flawed. There can be a future for them on the Kings but their roles will depend entirely upon what else Petrie decides to do. The same holds true for Quincy Douby, who shows sparks but so far no real flame of potential.
Anthony Johnson and Lorenzen Wright were visitors; they most likely won't be on the squad next year.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim has, from all reports, recovered from his surgery but will he be able to get back into anything resembling game shape for next season?
Kenny Thomas is the forgotten King. Relegated to the far, far end of the bench, it has to be assumed his only future with the Kings is as part of a trade package somewhere down the line.
Reggie Theus has, IMO, done a good enough job to earn a second year. He wasn't perfect, of course, but he did restore pride back in the team AND he coimmunicated with his players. Rumors of conflicts were nearly always followed by either public discussion or confirmed rumors of coach-player communication unheard of last season.
All in all, this wasn't a great season. It wasn't even a good season, if what's important to you is just wins and losses. BUT it was a building season, a season that washed off the stench of last year and started us back in the right direction.
Next up? Games against Portland, followed by the Hornets, the Spurs and the Lakers. And then, at least here at Kingsfans.com, a time for reflection and discussion about what we think the future should be until draft day 2008.
Now, let's get ready for some Kings baskeball.
GO KINGS!!!
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By VF21 at 04/08/2008 - 02:04
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The Kings travel to Oakland and a game against the Golden State Warriors. While Warriors fans cheered the Kings in their match against the Nuggets, chances are they won't be cheering for the guys in purple come Tuesday night.
The rest of the season (with the exception of Portland) is against playoff-bound teams. The Kings can't earn a spot in the post-season but they can have an effect on those who will be in the hunt for the title.
There are things to watch for as the season winds down. We're seeing more of Spencer Hawes and it's hard to believe he's only 19. We're seeing heart from Shelden Williams and have to wonder if it will be enough to keep him around. We're seeing increased skill from Francisco as a possible point guard and team leader. We've seen more improvement from Kevin Martin, as he continues to refine his game and find new ways to contribute. Especially noteable is his passing, which is definitely on the rise.
Only five more games - and then TDOS. What a long, strange year it's been. And the off-season could prove to be interesting, to say the least.
Now, let's get ready for some Kings basketball!
GO KINGS!
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By VF21 at 03/30/2008 - 20:05
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The Kings are in Seattle for a Sunday game. If it were the old days, I'd be hoping Vlade had been taking advantage of all the caffeine outlets as Sunday games on the road were never his high suit.
Tonight, however, the Kings walk into an arena with little to no future, a team that is most likely leaving Seattle within the very near future, and a lack of fans that's totally understandable because of the first two. In fact, with Spencer Hawes calling Seattle his hometown, his family and friends could easily make up a major chunk of those attending tonight's game.
Hawe may or may not play. Udrih is most likely out. So we'll see AJ (unless he's also out with an ankle injury), Martin, Artest, Moore and Miller - and wonder when, if ever, Reggie is just gonna give it over to the kids to see what they can do.
Douby, Martin, Garcia, Williams and Hawes (or Miller for a bit of veteran guidance if Hawes cannot play) would be much more enjoyable than what we've seen recently. Ron Artest still wants to win at all costs - and it's costing us in being able to see if there's any future on the Kings for Williams. In addition, it sure seems as though Quincy Douby's confidence is at an all-time low.
Reggie needs to put the kids in and leave them in. And he needs to do it soon. THAT would be a real coaching accomplishment. It's not meeting the magical .500 mark, or even beating Musselman's "record" that should be any kind of priority.
At this point, letting the kids play hard is much better than watching the disjointed efforts we see when Reggie plays substitution roulette.
It's still about heart and hustle but it's hard to give the kids a chance when guys like Artest are so determined to win. You cannot fault his heart but there needs to be a point in time when we let the kids get some real NBA experience without the pressure of having to do so when it really truly matters.
Let them get their feet wet and then next year we'll know whether they can be thrown into the deep end of the pool.
Let 'em run, Reggie!!! And quit sitting Kevin Martin for extended periods of time. Are you worried he'll pass you on more Kings records lists?
The PBP thread is here.
The game discussion thread is here.
Let's get ready for some Kings basketball!
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By VF21 at 03/28/2008 - 18:30
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As another season winds down, it seems as though we're all struggling to define our team. This includes, apparently, the players and the coaches.
Valid questions are being raised by the fan base about why the veterans are still playing so many minutes. Why is Anthony Johnson filling in for Beno when Quincy Douby could be using the minutes? Why isn't Theus using Shelden Williams more? And why does it seem as though Ron Artest has become a player/coach, announcing his intentions to either play or not play to the team whenever he chooses?
I've talked in earlier blogs about heart and hustle, energy and excitement. I talked about seeing the kids get the majority of minutes and then, I'm somewhat chagrined to admit, I got drawn into the "magic" of the moment and backed down from the criticism. But I was called on it - and rightly so. (One of the many things I love about KF, BTW.)
So I'm back on the right path, I think. I know what I want to see...
HEART AND HUSTLE. I want to see players out there giving it their all and playing like their jobs depended on it (and in some cases, they do). I want to see Coach Theus forget about doing better than last year, if that is his goal, and devise plays for the kids to run. Plays they can execute and learn from.
I want to see focus and dedication to improving our team. Right now that means restoring confidence in at least one case or am I the only one who has noticed that Douby looks a lot like Jason Williams did when he first went to Memphis? Quincy needs to be given enough time on the court to get into his game. Shelden needs to be given enough time to do the same. Hopefully Spencer Hawes' ankle injury is minor and he'll be able to get back on the court to work with Douby and Williams.
Just once I'd like Douby, Martin, Garcia, Williams and Hawes start the game and see how it plays out.
I've been to a fair number of Kings games in my life and it's never been solely about the winning (well, except for the Lakers and the playoffs). The fans have reacted the best when they are one with the players. When the electric feeling of ARCO THUNDER is so strong you can't tell where the court ends and the stands begin. When the players and the fans complete the perfect storm of symbiotic relationships.
HEART AND HUSTLE. Come on, Reggie. Let them run.
The game discussion thread is here.
The PBP thread is here.
Let's get ready for some Kings basketball!!!
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KingsFans Poll
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What would you think about rebuilding around Ron in the long term?
| Wonderful idea. |
   | 3 |
| Sounds good. |
   | 5 |
| No strong feelings, could take it or leave it. |
   | 15 |
| I dislike that prospect. |
   | 18 |
| Absolutely no. |
   | 43 |
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