Bee: Kings notes: Daniels doesn't make the cut

[Warhawk]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13732173p-14574951c.html

By Sam Amick


If Wayne Cooper could, he'd hand out jerseys to every single player, welcoming the whole talented lot as Kings and dealing with the playing time issues later. In his 12th season with the team, the vice president of basketball operations said training camp cuts have never been this tough. There's far more skill than seats, with only 13 roster spots to go around.


He said this, of course, right before the Kings faced Golden State on Sunday night, not far from where second-year forward Erik Daniels had just talked about his chances with booming confidence just minutes before.

But a day later, Daniels was cut and his teammates were a bit upset. The 6-foot-8 forward was the only free agent in camp who wasn't new to town, having spent his rookie season in Sacramento, where he made his biggest impact in the locker room. The Kings cut shooting guard Rickey Paulding as well, a move that carried far less weight than losing Daniels and brought the roster down to 16 players.

Weight loss was the theme of Daniels' offseason. After going undrafted out of Kentucky in 2004, Daniels made the roster as a free-agent long shot in his training-camp debut. But he bared the burden of so much bench time last season, tipping the scales at 240 pounds after playing at 215 in his college days and totaling 72 minutes in 21 games. In the offseason, he cut out the fast food, hit the gym hard and came back even lighter at 214 pounds.

Yet because the Kings are overrun with forwards, even a skinnier Daniels couldn't fit in.

"I'm a little frustrated because I worked so hard in the offseason so I could come back in better shape and have a better chance of making it," Daniels said after leaving the Kings' practice facility. "I'd been playing real well in practice. But I kind of felt like it might be coming."

No one was more disappointed to see him go than second-year shooting guard Kevin Martin, who endured a rookie year full of pranks and pitfalls alongside Daniels. The two were inseparable, and Martin said Daniels was indispensable away from the court.

"He's the only reason I made it through last year, because I could take some time away from ball, when I wasn't playing, and we'd have a good time," Martin said. "I can't be disappointed in the Kings, but I'm just sad to see him go."

Daniels plans to head home to Cincinnati, then attempt to squeeze into another training camp before considering the NBA Developmental League, the Continental Basketball Association or heading overseas to play.

"I had a lot of great teammates, some great relationships with the Kings that will probably last me the rest of my life," Daniels said. "I have no regrets."

Miller off bench? - Not quite, but not quite impossible, either.

Coach Rick Adelman said there will be times this season when he uses center Brad Miller off the bench as he did against Golden State on Sunday. With a starting five that included Kenny Thomas at power forward and Shareef Abdur-Rahim at center, the Kings were a bit quicker and more athletic at tipoff against an undersized Warriors group.

"You'll see it," Adelman said. "I think there will be times when they'll be a better team on the floor than (they would be) having a center. As long as they can defend and rebound, they're hard to guard."

 

[Warhawk]

The question then becomes can we guard THEM at the other end of the court without a true center on the floor....

 

[ParniValjak]

I don't think Rick will do that very often though. I suspect he would use that line up against slower teams that aren't overly good in front court.

That sort of formula seemed to work against the Worriors. I know its a pre-season game but I am sure there are some other teams that it could work against.

 

[Bricklayer]

Miller off bench? - Not quite, but not quite impossible, either.

Coach Rick Adelman said there will be times this season when he uses center Brad Miller off the bench as he did against Golden State on Sunday. With a starting five that included Kenny Thomas at power forward and Shareef Abdur-Rahim at center, the Kings were a bit quicker and more athletic at tipoff against an undersized Warriors group.

"You'll see it," Adelman said. "I think there will be times when they'll be a better team on the floor than (they would be) having a center. As long as they can defend and rebound, they're hard to guard."

Unbelievable. We are turning into Dallas before my very eyes. And we used to have some damn hearty laughs about Dallas until they wised up.

 

[Warhawk]

Unbelievable. We are turning into Dallas before my very eyes. And we used to have some damn hearty laughs about Dallas until they wised up.

Well, in his defense, at least it isn't something he'll do very often - sounds like a scheme to be used only sparingly against certain lineups. I don't like it, though.

 

[Variant]

Hey, at least that group is athletic. Not like Brad is some fantastic stalwart on the defensive end.

I know he's talking about the starting line-up, but we can actually get a fairly defensive lineup out there by throwing guys like Skinner/Hart into the mix. I've given up on Bibby ever learning how to stay in front of his man..

 

[HndsmCelt]

Unbelievable. We are turning into Dallas before my very eyes. And we used to have some damn hearty laughs about Dallas until they wised up.

If Brad was blaocking shots, punking other centers in the paint or in other ways ACTING like a dominat center I'd be more worried. On the other hand if SAR is going to rebound like Pedja that small line up WILL suffer abuse.
The bottom line is that as much as I hate small ball this particular small line up probably is faster, stronger and able to out run most small line ups that they might face. That being said I'm not sure very many team will WANT to go small against the Kings this season with actual post players and shot blockers on the floor.

 

[Warhawk]

If Brad was blaocking shots, punking other centers in the paint or in other ways ACTING like a dominat center I'd be more worried. On the other hand if SAR is going to rebound like Pedja that small line up WILL suffer abuse.
The bottom line is that as much as I hate small ball this particular small line up probably is faster, stronger and able to out run most small line ups that they might face. That being said I'm not sure very many team will WANT to go small against the Kings this season with actual post players and shot blockers on the floor.

True to a certain extent, but Brad will run the floor some too (he's had some good dunks on breaks, no pun intended) and at this point I'd rather have Brad help run the offense than SAR from the center position.

 

[HndsmCelt]

True to a certain extent, but Brad will run the floor some too (he's had some good dunks on breaks, no pun intended) and at this point I'd rather have Brad help run the offense than SAR from the center position.

On a day to day basis sure. I love Brad, I was just pointing out that in some rare cases if RA wanted to go small it did not look that bad this time and for a reason.

 

[Warhawk]

On a day to day basis sure. I love Brad, I was just pointing out that in some rare cases if RA wanted to go small it did not look that bad this time and for a reason.

Oh, I agree with you. It could work in stretches, and maybe against a team like the Suns, for instance, when they go small and athletic.

 

[mr. moustache]

Oh, I agree with you. It could work in stretches, and maybe against a team like the Suns, for instance, when they go small and athletic.

Brad's tall and he can rebound, that's about the only centerlike qualities he has. If we're going small I certainly wouldn't mind seeing Skinner getting some of Thomas' minutes. I know Thomas is our most talented sub and I want him to get some minutes, but he's basically SAR without a post game. Skinner is a poor man's Ben Wallace with a better offensive game, and MUCH worse man on man defense.

It's going to be an interesting balancing act for Rick. We have 3 true post players now. This time last year we had 0. There will be a lot of ups and downs this year.

 

[VF21]

Okay, maybe I'm just looking for other explanations, but I am the only one who looked at the "small ball" lineup as a way to assuage KT's hurt feelings about possibly not starting, at least at this point?

It's pre-season and the team is going to experiment. My thought is that this was a pretty clever way to avoid more SAR-KT debate, at least for the moment. Give the team more time to gel together before making the final decision (not that I'm not pretty sure what that decision will be) on who will hear their name announced at the beginning of the game.

 

[Bricklayer]

Okay, maybe I'm just looking for other explanations, but I am the only one who looked at the "small ball" lineup as a way to assuage KT's hurt feelings about possibly not starting, at least at this point?

You're not the only one...until Rick announced that he might be doing it when the games count too. "Hi, we have a Top 5 center, an extraordinarily rare commodity in today's NBA. But we're also idiots, so we're going to bench said center occasionally in favor of a 6'7" tweener forward, and move our PF, who actually has played most of his career at SF, over to the pivot. Then we can throw in a softy shooter who doesn't rebound at SF, and let our OG take care of all of the inside work. Smallball wins championships you know! Don told me so."

 

[Warhawk]

You're not the only one...until Rick announced that he might be doing it when the games count too. "Hi, we have a Top 5 center, an extraordinarily rare commodity in today's NBA. But we're also idiots, so we're going to bench said center occasionally in favor of a 6'7" tweener forward, and move our PF, who actually has played most of his career at SF, over to the pivot. Then we can throw in a softy shooter who doesn't rebound at SF, and let our OG take care of all of the inside work. Smallball wins championships you know! Don told me so."

So, what are you saying here Brick? You agree with RA on this one? C'mon, let us know how you REALLY feel!

 

[HndsmCelt]

Brick and VF21, I think you are making way too much out of a preseason experiment. As one of the most vocal oponents of small ball on this board even I had to admit that in this ONE case it worked out prety well for every one except Reeef who was definatly a fis out of watter at the 5. Now if we see this Hobbit line up during the regular season much at all then that might be a different story. But as potential answer to small fast line ups its always nice to have options.

 

[allrightythen]

I thought I had a grasp on the sport of Basketball generally speaking (or at least the positions and who is suppossed to do what) until now.

Following this new theme I have a few suggestions. We should move Peja down and play him at PF because he has shown that he does well against bigger, slower guys and can get his shot off easier. We should also bring Hart in as the SF because of the quickness advantage and we would have another mismatch there too.

Honestly, I don't understand how or why Adelman would preach defense and rebounding all the time(or at least claim to) then start the halflings and expect to see any improvement. Seems to me like a little bit of double talk or, as VF21 said, just a move to stroke KT's ego (which is a terrible idea if he's not going to start him in the regular season).

 

[VF21]

Brick and VF21, I think you are making way too much out of a preseason experiment. As one of the most vocal oponents of small ball on this board even I had to admit that in this ONE case it worked out prety well for every one except Reeef who was definatly a fis out of watter at the 5. Now if we see this Hobbit line up during the regular season much at all then that might be a different story. But as potential answer to small fast line ups its always nice to have options.

How is offering one alternative possibility for the "small ball" starting lineup making way too much of something?

Yes, it's nice to have options. It's also nice to find ways to placate "power forwards" who might not be real happy with the handwriting on the wall. If Adelman uses this starting lineup much at all during the regular season, I'll be stunned, shocked and dismayed. AND, if you consider Adelman's usual adversity to experiments unless mandated by circumstances beyond his control, you - or at least I - find yourself - myself - wondering if the actual reason to start KT and SAR was something other than what was said publicly.

That IMHO is not making way too much of something.

 

[HndsmCelt]

To me the placating Kenny the Dwarf theory just seems a little thin thats all, Im not saying your wrong as much as I am saying there does not seem to be much to support it. I'd also like to think RA and the org does not set up line ups to please an over paid under sized forward who belongs on the bench and/or trading block.

 

[VF21]

To me the placating Kenny the Dwarf theory just seems a little thin thats all, Im not saying your wrong as much as I am saying there does not seem to be much to support it. I'd also like to think RA and the org does not set up line ups to please an over paid under sized forward who belongs on the bench and/or trading block.

While I too want to hope that it's not simply placating KT, I have to consider that it might be a concession to try something that perhaps even KT or another player suggested ...

And of course I don't have much to support it. I don't let silly things like evidence and facts get in the way of my hypotheses.

 

[mr. moustache]

I think they're going to go with the small ball lineup a few times in the regular season and were eager to try it out early. Rick wanted to see how these 5 played together. Because they started these 5, the sub patterns were different than they normally would be, which allowed the team to see a few different lineups than they otherwise would. If we ever *start* SAR at center, barring injury, I'd be surprised.

While I too want to hope that it's not simply placating KT, I have to consider that it might be a concession to try something that perhaps even KT or another player suggested ...

And of course I don't have much to support it. I don't let silly things like evidence and facts get in the way of my hypotheses.

 

[Kings113]

If Brad was blaocking shots, punking other centers in the paint or in other ways ACTING like a dominat center I'd be more worried. On the other hand if SAR is going to rebound like Pedja that small line up WILL suffer abuse.
The bottom line is that as much as I hate small ball this particular small line up probably is faster, stronger and able to out run most small line ups that they might face. That being said I'm not sure very many team will WANT to go small against the Kings this season with actual post players and shot blockers on the floor.

Well, SAR and Peja aren't going to just start getting 1-3 RPG this season... it's pre-season.

 

[Entity]

who cares we won that game by 20 points. So it looks like it works.

and please before your come back is look who it was against Foyle and Murphy, think about what your saying which is exactly what RA was saying. the lineup of Thomas and SAR against those 2 was greatly in our favor.

another thing don't get your lace all wadded up its not like you will see this lineup day in and day out. You may not see it but 2 or 3 times all year. Dallas hasn't won a championship no but its not because they played small ball for 2 or 3 minutes every 4 or 5 games.

Finally no matter what any of us say or think Rick Adleman is a better coach than any of us if not were is the tread bashing your decision making???

 

[Rockin' in the Free World]

The only thing I'll say in Adelamn's defense is that SAR at center is a lot better than Corliss. Not much of a consoloation though...

 

[allrightythen]

who cares we won that game by 20 points.

Well, its a preseason game so I don't know if even that matters. Isn't it great to be talking about something on the court now though.

 

[Entity]

it wouldn't have matter if the fact that we were 0-5 against the Warriors last year including 1 preason game was brought up so much. They we Baron Davisless in 3 of those games so yeah i feel it matters a tad.

 

[Kings113]

Actually we we're 1-4 (counting the pre-season game) last season. Won at GS in OT, in Feb. I think, Brad Miller had his career night. J-Rich couldn't hit some key FTs also in that game.

 

[allrightythen]

it wouldn't have matter if the fact that we were 0-5 against the Warriors last year including 1 preason game was brought up so much. They we Baron Davisless in 3 of those games so yeah i feel it matters a tad.

I see what you mean and it makes sense to a point. I highly doubt that the coaches do any scheming or make game plans for teams in the preseason as they would in the regular season. This alone causes me at least to put very little stock into W-Ls in the preseason. Its always nice to win regardless of the date or situation, but the games just don't mean much, to coaches, to many of the players, its just hard to say how much this really means in the end.

With all that said, its always nice to beat the Warriors.

 

[Bricklayer]

it wouldn't have matter if the fact that we were 0-5 against the Warriors last year including 1 preason game was brought up so much. They we Baron Davisless in 3 of those games so yeah i feel it matters a tad.

And they were Jason Richardsonless in this one.

Preseason really is irrelevant. Almost no predictor of team success at all. Some teams try, some don't. Some are together, some are just randomly experimenting with camp invites. People sit out with nothing injuries. Some guys use camp to get in shape. San Antonio is 0-5 right now in preseason. Somehow I doubt they are going 0-82 in the regular season.