I agree.
BTW, I don't have a problem with criticism when it's warranted. However, this constant rush to judgement and need for instant gratification is what makes no sense to me. While I may not necessarily agree with any or all of it, I understand the extreme criticism toward Geoff Petrie, the Maloofs and / or some of the players that have been around for 3+ years. When you don't see improvement or development after a number of years, it's understandable. However, I will never understand extreme criticism towards first or second year players / coaches or the rush to judgement on how good or effective they'll be.
Moving on to the topic at hand, now many of you see why I didn't buy into all the supposed reasons someone would want to play in Europe over the NBA. As I said before, a player like AK47 is as competitive as they come and wants to play against the very best. While the perks and tax breaks may be nice, it's still not the NBA. That's why we never saw the mass exodus of NBA players to the Euro leagues as was predicted by some years ago and why we still see many of Europe's best players end up in the States. As I said before, most players that can play in the NBA want to play in the NBA because it's the best league in the world. They'll sacrifice some extra money and perks in order to play with and against the best. It's looking as if AK47 is no different.
I don't disagree with anything you said. I have no problem with criticism, as long as its selective, and factual. But when the criticism approaches broad spectrum, and is based mostly on emotion, and unleashed personal bias, then you lose me. We all have our biases. I certainly have mine. I didn't like the Paul Westphal hiring from the get go. But mostly kept it to myself, until I had some fair results to work with. I'm willing to give anyone a second chance. But when history starts to repeat itself, as it did with Westphal, then I draw a line in the sand.
In Smarts case, I don't have nearly as much history to work with as I did with Westphal. Yes, he played small ball at Golden State, but lets remember he inherited a team built by Nellie. A team that was put together for, and had played small ball. You don't give a mechanic all the parts and tools to build a car, and then ask him to build a rocketship. It requires changing a lot of parts. So in Smarts case, I'm willing to give him some time before passing judgement.
There have been some positives in his short reign. Cousins and he seem to be on the same page, and Cuz played some of his best basketball under Smart. He instituted a summer program for the players, and he monitoring that program. And although we had another miserable season, his winning percentage was better than Westphals. Is that anything to get overly excited about? No, probably not. But it was a tiny step in the right direction. Now we have to see if he can make a big step in the right direction when he has a full training camp and a full exhibition season to work with.
Do I think we'll be a playoff team? Hmmmm, maybe, if everything falls into place properly. There's enough talent on the team, that if its used properly, and it performs up to its talent level, the playoffs are possible. I know many of you think we have very little talent other than Cuz and Tyreke, and many of you are anxious to trade Tyreke. But there are legitimate NBA players on the team. The trick is to use them to their strengths, and get them to play together. As much as some you hate Salmons, he is a quality player if used properly. I honestly don't think Salmons minds coming off the bench. I just think he has trouble getting into the flow off the bench at times. At least offensively. There's a difference between getting into the flow, and being disinterested. He was actually playing well at the end of the season until he got hurt, when he was playing lead guard with the second unit. He seemed to embrace that role, and if he doesn't get traded, that might be a good use for him on the floor with Brooks, letting Brooks be the off guard taking most of the shots. That way Salmons can just take what the defense gives him, instead of trying to create for himself.
I'm not going to go position by position. I think you see my point. I know a lot of us like to think were smarter than Petrie or Smart, but if you really think about it logically, that makes no sense. We sit in the catbird seat of no responsibility other than observing and criticizing. We have few real facts to go on, other than the results we see. So we see the destination, but we have little knowledge of the journey that got us there. For example, I spoke with Petrie at summer league, and asked him about Jeffery Taylor who, in my opinion, which I voiced to him, was a great fit for our team, and asked him if the Kings had any interest and if they had made an effort. The answer was yes and yes, but they couldn't make a deal. Now thats about all your ever going to get out of him. My point is, that just because you don't see the results you want, or the trade you want, doesn't mean there wasn't an effort to make said trade or deal. I had heard that the Kings had spoken to the Warriors. Thats all I know, but the Warriors did have the 30th pick in the draft. Jeffery Taylor went with the 1st pick in the second round. The Warriors drafted Festus Ezeli with the 30th pick. Maybe they had their heart set on Ezeli, and felt he wouldn't be there later in the second round. Who knows? And thats the point.
A lot of people have pointed to the Timberwolves as an example of how to get things done. Really! Just what have they done? The signed Brandon Roy, which may be a great move, or a waste of money. I'm a huge Roy fan, so I hope for his sake, he's able to replicate some of what he used to do. They offered Batum an enormus amount of money, which forced Portland to overpay for one of its own players, and probably pissed of Portland to the extent they will never be a trading partner in the future. Now they're offering Kirilenko a large sum of money, while saying he's going to backup L.A. at the PF position. I'm sure thats going to go over like a lead balloon with Kirilenko. Khan is the laughing stock of the NBA. He's like a loose cannon going off in every direction. And while Petrie frustrates me with slow methodical, and secret ways of doing things, I'll take him, over someone like Khan any day of the week.
