Bee: Kings buzz (10/13/05)

[Warhawk]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13707501p-14550046c.html


By Sam Amick

Poisonous presence

It was the closest Brad Miller has come to being poison in the locker room, when the "dirtball," as one Kings employee called him, had poison ivy rashes on his face, arms and legs after Wednesday's practice.
"I don't know where I got it," said Miller, who practiced despite the condition.



Move of the day

Point guard Ronnie Price takes home his second MOTD award for his twister-like move in the paint during a five-on-five scrimmage. Price cut in the lane, jabbed right, then spun left to blow past two Kings for the layup.



Coach likes Hart

With the backdrop of an awful night for the Kings behind him, point guard Jason Hart came out of the first preseason game looking golden. Tuesday, he was one of the rare Kings active on both ends of the floor.



"I like Jason," Rick Adelman said. "I think he gives us energy off the bench. He makes shots, doesn't make mistakes."

Parting shot

Mike Bibby couldn't let Kenny Thomas get on with his media session before joking with the power forward that he was a ball hog in the preseason opener.

"We took the same amount of shots," Thomas said. "He took eight. I took eight. He's just trying to be funny."

Key dates

Sunday vs. Golden State, 6 p.m.: The Warriors could be miles ahead of the Kings in terms of chemistry, with point guard Baron Davis as the scientist.



Oct. 22 at Portland, 7 p.m.: New Kings Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Bonzi Wells revisit their old squad.



Oct. 28 at Lakers (Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas), 7 p.m.: The Kings' new gold and purple jerseys would work on so many levels for this game.



Oct. 31: Rosters set for regular season; official cut day.

Nov. 1: Opening night.

 

[Warhawk]

Brad, I'm guessing out in the woods somewhere....

And we got Hart for a 2nd rounder???? Petrie must use Jedi mind tricks to pull these trades.

<Petrie waves hand and a blank look comes over the other GM's face>
Petrie: "You want to trade Hart to us for a 2nd round pick."
Other GMs: "I want to trade Hart to you for a 2nd round pick."
Petrie signs paperwork and walks away....

 

[Bricklayer]

Brad, I'm guessing out in the woods somewhere....

And we got Hart for a 2nd rounder???? Petrie must use Jedi mind tricks to pull these trades.

<Petrie waves hand and a blank look comes over the other GM's face>
Petrie: "You want to trade Hart to us for a 2nd round pick."
Other GMs: "I want to trade Hart to you for a 2nd round pick."
Petrie signs paperwork and walks away....

They just didn't have a use for him with the rook and Knight returning, and didn't want to pay him to be PG #3. Mildly surprised that nobody made a better offer really, but then again before last season Hart was almost out of the league (how he ended up on an expansion team) and maybe nobody really valued him after jus the one season. Oh well, should be solid for us as a reserve, and thankfully brings a change of pace. We'll miss Bobby if Mike ever goes down though.

Parting shot

Mike Bibby couldn't let Kenny Thomas get on with his media session before joking with the power forward that he was a ball hog in the preseason opener.

"We took the same amount of shots," Thomas said. "He took eight. I took eight. He's just trying to be funny."

I wonder...at the end of last season Mike made a remark that stuck with me, about everybody wanting to shoot and nobody knowing their role. Seemed at the time most likely he was aiming that remark at either Cat or Kenny, or both. Wonder if this could be one of those "jokes" that is actually meant semi-seriously as a warning?

 

[VF21]

I wonder...at the end of last season Mike made a remark that stuck with me, about everybody wanting to shoot and nobody knowing their role. Seemed at the time most likely he was aiming that remark at either Cat or Kenny, or both. Wonder if this could be one of those "jokes" that is actually meant semi-seriously as a warning?

At the risk of appearing to look for drama when there's nothing to find (my famous AV imitation ), I have to consider this just might be the tip of an iceberg that could end up putting a big nasty gash in the USS Kings. KT thinks he's a big dog. Self-confidence is a good thing to have, but you have to face reality, too. Most people recognized right away that Cuttino just didn't seem to fit. I personally don't think KT is a good fit for this team, or at least his EGO isn't a good fit for our team.

I hope in the rest of the pre-season to be proven utterly and completely wrong...

I also hope that I win the lottery and can buy season tickets for all of us!!!

Unfortunately, I think I have a better chance with the latter than the former.

 

[Kings113]

I'd trade KT for a center and another acquistion. But until he starts getting really weird, I'm fine with him on the team. I know he won't be starting, if any, it wouldn't be much.

 

[VF21]

^^The problem, if one develops, won't be a matter of whether or not he starts. The problem with someone who clearly isn't happy is that - much like with Tony Massenberg and Keon Clark, just to name two - their discontent makes the locker room uncomfortable at the least and chaotic at the worst.

The Kings have been through enough controversy and drama in the last two years to last a lifetime, IF - and I'm emphasizing the IF - it turns out that KT is not willing to accept whatever role Adelman deems him best suited for, then I strongly suspect he will be shipped out at the first available moment. Petrie has worked too hard to try and rebuild a team that just might be able to put it together and have a legitimate run to have it destroyed by one player's ego.

Again, I hope none of this comes to pass. I hope KT is able to realize that he can be a valuable contributor to this team, regardless of whether he "starts" or not. Now is the time to put the team first.

GO KINGS!!!!!

 

[Fear the Putin]

kenny cant start!!

did you see him in the first preseason game?
i know its the first game and everything, but come on...
we need the starters to come out with intensity and Shareef did just that when he came off the bench...

Shareef knows how to take it to the hole and score. Hes big(ger) than Kenny and is just a great post-up guy

 

[Kings113]

KT didn't have a bad game though. 10 pts, 5 boards, block, steal.

 

[ParniValjak]

KT didn't have a bad game though. 10 pts, 5 boards, block, steal.

And those numbers would look great for him if he came off the bench for his 20-25 minutes per game. 10ppg and 5 rpg would be SO valuable off the bench and he IS capable of that. But as VF said, its up to Thomas to accept that role. A good 6th man that can give you those sort of numbers and some enery off the bench is worth his weight in gold.

 

[Kings113]

Exactly.

 

[kennadog]

Exactly here too. I find it odd that I am worrying about KT's attitude poisoning the locker room and not Bonzi's (well it IS early). And of course, Bonzi fully expects to be getting a LOT of minutes. But Kenny has made his unhappiness with coming off the bench public and almost immediately after getting here. I'm not sure the ink on the deal had dried yet. Yes, I want guys to have drive and passion, but I don't like the public airing of disgruntlement. Talk to your team mates, coach, GM, owners, not the media.

I don't like that and that does not generally happen on a team with good chemistry. With chemistry everyone knows their role and accepts it, usually because they know the are valued for what they bring. Of course, winning is the best chemistry builder. Hard to accept a role you don't want if it isn't contributing to real success. But KT...shut up and give it a chance! (Sheesh...he's KT, not KG.)

 

[6th]

Exactly here too. I find it odd that I am worrying about KT's attitude poisoning the locker room and not Bonzi's (well it IS early). And of course, Bonzi fully expects to be getting a LOT of minutes. But Kenny has made his unhappiness with coming off the bench public and almost immediately after getting here. I'm not sure the ink on the deal had dried yet. Yes, I want guys to have drive and passion, but I don't like the public airing of disgruntlement. Talk to your team mates, coach, GM, owners, not the media.

I don't like that and that does not generally happen on a team with good chemistry. With chemistry everyone knows their role and accepts it, usually because they know the are valued for what they bring. Of course, winning is the best chemistry builder. Hard to accept a role you don't want if it isn't contributing to real success. But KT...shut up and give it a chance! (Sheesh...he's KT, not KG.)

This is an excellent post. It is obvious that KT is confused about who he is. Someone needs to set him straight about his value to a team. He really does come across as someone who thinks he is a KG.