http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14252731p-15068802c.html
The arrival of Ron Artest, left, proved to be the defensive and emotional boost the Kings needed this season. Geoff Petrie will need to fine-tune the Kings' roster to keep the team's run of success going. Sacramento Bee/Carl Costas
About these Kings, let's just say the ending was better than the opening act.
At least there was a postseason.
At least Ron Artest wears purple.
At least that's a start.
As was apparent throughout the second half of a once-abysmal season, and again during the opening-round playoff series with the world champion San Antonio Spurs, the Kings have identity issues. They remain in the mixing stage, the full body of work still to be sculpted and more readily defined. Geoff Petrie needs to keep his apron on.
"It was a successful run," the Kings basketball president said after his team was eliminated Friday night at Arco Arena, "and it was a totally different style from the way we were playing. The trade (Peja Stojakovic for Artest) speaks for itself. Where the team was, the way it was perceived, the way it was playing before and after is pretty obvious. The change was pretty dramatic. It was there. It happened. Now we've got to move forward.
Obviously, with Joe and Gavin (Maloof) ... we'll be meeting and discussing everything."
There aren't too many secrets out there in the old barn. Rick Adelman's contract expires shortly, and before Petrie addresses any of the club's other pressing matters - and there are several - the coaching situation has to be resolved. Questions have to be asked and answered. Does Adelman want to remain in Sacramento? Do the Maloofs want him to stick around? Can the involved parties even stay in the same room together long enough to reach an accord on a new contract?
That chill in the Arco offices isn't caused by air conditioning alone. A year ago, remember, having become almost dismayed following their club's opening-round effort against the Seattle Sonics, the Maloofs went off in pursuit of Phil Jackson. As recently as two weeks ago, as the Kings backed into the playoffs and before their surprisingly resilient performance against the Spurs, Joe Maloof repeatedly hedged on the matter.
On Friday, however, the Kings' co-owner hinted at a future that could very well include the return of the veteran coach, who in recent comments to The Bee, expressed his own reservations about returning. And while group therapy would seem a prerequisite to any future Adelman-Maloof pairing, Petrie's influence remains of greatest significance. Petrie still calls the plays, and based on the team's improvement since acquiring Artest, he would more likely volunteer for a root canal than advocate a coaching change.
The clue is in his features, not his words. When the Kings were an open wound earlier in the season, Petrie stood in his customary spot in the tunnel, angst etched across his normally impassive face. He watched Bibby and Miller play keep-away with Peja, whose once-prolific presence diminished by the day. He realized his players no longer were responding, that their coach's same old tunes were muted by headphones and iPods - a common occurrence in a league where a coach's average life span ranges from four to five years. He heard the boos bouncing off the floor. "I know the fans were disappointed during the first 44 games or so," added Petrie. "But they hung in there. They see a lot of positive things, and I think we do, too."
If Petrie doesn't exactly plan on taking a rake to the team once the coaching situation is resolved, his offseason maneuvering begins in earnest. He has much to contemplate. Bibby, who tired noticeably against the Spurs and committed uncharacteristic turnovers, can't continue to play marathon minutes; the Kings desperately need a backup point.
The power forward position has to be upgraded as well. Neither Kenny Thomas nor Shareef Abdur-Rahim is satisfied with the shuttle system, nor ideally suited for matchups against their premier counterparts in the Western Conference. Thomas is undersized at 6-foot-7, and though 2 inches taller, Abdur-Rahim lacks length and athleticism.
Additionally, the shooting guard position remains problematic, with Kevin Martin's development creating an interesting dilemma. Do the Kings attempt to re-sign Bonzi Wells, a free agent in July? Does Wells offer the Kings a hometown discount to stay? And there is an even more fundamental question: How many post-up players in the starting lineup is too many?
Ultimately, Petrie and his coach - whomever that proves to be - have to settle on a style of play and alter the roster accordingly. It is worth noting here that, among other things, the Spurs' stifling defense exploited the Kings' lack of ball and body movement in the halfcourt sets, a problem compounded by an ongoing inability to consistently score easy baskets.
Artest, of course, changed everything. Changed the dynamic. Changed the defense. Changed the mentality. Changed the atmosphere. Changed the franchise for the better, and a year ago, who would have believed that was possible? But he needs help, needs Petrie to pull off another coup (see Peja for Artest). The 2006 postseason should be only the beginning.
About these Kings, let's just say the ending was better than the opening act.
At least there was a postseason.
At least Ron Artest wears purple.
At least that's a start.
As was apparent throughout the second half of a once-abysmal season, and again during the opening-round playoff series with the world champion San Antonio Spurs, the Kings have identity issues. They remain in the mixing stage, the full body of work still to be sculpted and more readily defined. Geoff Petrie needs to keep his apron on.
"It was a successful run," the Kings basketball president said after his team was eliminated Friday night at Arco Arena, "and it was a totally different style from the way we were playing. The trade (Peja Stojakovic for Artest) speaks for itself. Where the team was, the way it was perceived, the way it was playing before and after is pretty obvious. The change was pretty dramatic. It was there. It happened. Now we've got to move forward.
Obviously, with Joe and Gavin (Maloof) ... we'll be meeting and discussing everything."
There aren't too many secrets out there in the old barn. Rick Adelman's contract expires shortly, and before Petrie addresses any of the club's other pressing matters - and there are several - the coaching situation has to be resolved. Questions have to be asked and answered. Does Adelman want to remain in Sacramento? Do the Maloofs want him to stick around? Can the involved parties even stay in the same room together long enough to reach an accord on a new contract?
That chill in the Arco offices isn't caused by air conditioning alone. A year ago, remember, having become almost dismayed following their club's opening-round effort against the Seattle Sonics, the Maloofs went off in pursuit of Phil Jackson. As recently as two weeks ago, as the Kings backed into the playoffs and before their surprisingly resilient performance against the Spurs, Joe Maloof repeatedly hedged on the matter.
On Friday, however, the Kings' co-owner hinted at a future that could very well include the return of the veteran coach, who in recent comments to The Bee, expressed his own reservations about returning. And while group therapy would seem a prerequisite to any future Adelman-Maloof pairing, Petrie's influence remains of greatest significance. Petrie still calls the plays, and based on the team's improvement since acquiring Artest, he would more likely volunteer for a root canal than advocate a coaching change.
The clue is in his features, not his words. When the Kings were an open wound earlier in the season, Petrie stood in his customary spot in the tunnel, angst etched across his normally impassive face. He watched Bibby and Miller play keep-away with Peja, whose once-prolific presence diminished by the day. He realized his players no longer were responding, that their coach's same old tunes were muted by headphones and iPods - a common occurrence in a league where a coach's average life span ranges from four to five years. He heard the boos bouncing off the floor. "I know the fans were disappointed during the first 44 games or so," added Petrie. "But they hung in there. They see a lot of positive things, and I think we do, too."
If Petrie doesn't exactly plan on taking a rake to the team once the coaching situation is resolved, his offseason maneuvering begins in earnest. He has much to contemplate. Bibby, who tired noticeably against the Spurs and committed uncharacteristic turnovers, can't continue to play marathon minutes; the Kings desperately need a backup point.
The power forward position has to be upgraded as well. Neither Kenny Thomas nor Shareef Abdur-Rahim is satisfied with the shuttle system, nor ideally suited for matchups against their premier counterparts in the Western Conference. Thomas is undersized at 6-foot-7, and though 2 inches taller, Abdur-Rahim lacks length and athleticism.
Additionally, the shooting guard position remains problematic, with Kevin Martin's development creating an interesting dilemma. Do the Kings attempt to re-sign Bonzi Wells, a free agent in July? Does Wells offer the Kings a hometown discount to stay? And there is an even more fundamental question: How many post-up players in the starting lineup is too many?
Ultimately, Petrie and his coach - whomever that proves to be - have to settle on a style of play and alter the roster accordingly. It is worth noting here that, among other things, the Spurs' stifling defense exploited the Kings' lack of ball and body movement in the halfcourt sets, a problem compounded by an ongoing inability to consistently score easy baskets.
Artest, of course, changed everything. Changed the dynamic. Changed the defense. Changed the mentality. Changed the atmosphere. Changed the franchise for the better, and a year ago, who would have believed that was possible? But he needs help, needs Petrie to pull off another coup (see Peja for Artest). The 2006 postseason should be only the beginning.
