http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14203321p-15029611c.html
Kings' midseason report: The grades are in, and they're not pretty
by Sam Amick
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, February 18, 2006
Anyone seen that infamous piece of paper with the Kings' letterhead? It had Mike Bibby, Bonzi Wells, Peja Stojakovic, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and Brad Miller pegged as one of - if not the best - starting five units in the West, with a foolproof plan outlined for their crowning as Pacific Division champions.
Make that paper champions.
The script has been re-written, burned by both the blockbuster trade that brought Ron Artest to town and injuries that have altered the storyline in the first season of the new era.
The problems before the trade were evident, from a lack of leadership and chemistry to a mix of players that simply didn't seem to complement one another. That much, as blame goes, falls on president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie.
The goal itself has been downgraded, from making serious playoff noise to getting there at all. A playoff appearance would be impressive, considering the franchise is in full transition mode. But what hasn't changed is the need for the players, coaches and front-office types to bring it every day.
Have they?
The disclaimer on the midseason grades: no one on a team that had high expectations and has a 24-29 record deserves an "A" of any kind:
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Before breaking his jaw, he was a pale version of the as-advertised forward who's been a model of productivity his entire career. But Abdur-Rahim has had a long road back from the injury, minimizing his role and dropping his numbers to career-low levels. With plenty of jump-shooters on the roster, he needs to operate in the post more and return to his rebounding ways. Grade: B-
Ron Artest
The newest King has brought energy, toughness and a defensive mind-set to a team that was desperate for all of it. And considering he still isn't in the shape he was at the season's outset in Indiana, his play has been all the more impressive. Of late, though, Artest has been hoisting as many three-pointers as Mike Bibby, not the greatest idea for one of the team's best post-up players. Grade: B+
Mike Bibby
Even one of Bibby's best statistical seasons simply hasn't been enough, as he was one third of the core (with Brad Miller and Peja Stojakovic) that didn't make it happen early in what eventually led to the trade of Stojakovic for Artest. He remains potent as always on offense, and his defense has shown some improvement since Artest's arrival. His 43.1 shooting percentage is just off his career low. Grade: C
Francisco García
Things were pretty ugly for a while, as García spent the first few months of his career jacking up wayward three-pointers, losing his way within the Kings' offensive system, and generally looking lost. But there have been significant improvements since. Grade: C+
Jason Hart
This union just hasn't worked out like it was planned. Yes, Hart brings a defensive tenacity the Kings needed, but it hasn't had the impact one would have thought. Knowing he plays for the Kings, he's tried to score along with the rest of his teammates, but it often comes at the expense of better looks. Grade: C-
Kevin Martin
Suddenly, the question of what the Kings might become next season looks more promising because of the second-year shooting guard. Martin's progress has been rapid, and he is more than productive enough to warrant a starting role for years to come. He leads the league in true shooting percentage (63.3 percent), which takes into account two-point shots, three-pointers and free throws. The Kings are 10-1 when he scores 20-plus points, which is as telling a sign as any. Grade: B
Brad Miller
With much of the team's identity now wrapped up in Miller, it's a mystery how he can be so good on some nights and so bad on others. And for a player who gets blown by or jumped over so often on defense, a consistent offensive output would surely help matters. Grade: C+
Ronnie Price
He's just getting started on his learning curve, but coach Rick Adelman clearly doesn't feel comfortable turning the backup point guard role over to Price just yet. Grade: Incomplete.
Jamal Sampson
The big man who's with his fourth team in as many seasons has hardly stepped out on the court. Grade: Incomplete.
Brian Skinner
When Skinner actually plays, he can affect games, giving opponents reason to pause as they enter the paint. He is one of those players whose statistics will never show his worth, but has only had minutes on an inconsistent basis. Grade: B
Kenny Thomas
Anyone whose ears aren't filled with wax knows Thomas prefers starting, but his ineffectiveness off the bench early on contributed heavily to the Kings' demise. Since, he's been solid as a starter, turning in four consecutive double doubles heading into the break. Grade: C
Bonzi Wells
He was the team MVP before tearing his groin Dec. 19, when he became the guy in the suit at the end of the bench. More than anything, Wells was one of the few who played on both ends of the floor, which is a problem for Bibby and Miller. And he played with a passion that was missing from his running mates. Grade: B+
Corliss Williamson
The "Big Nasty" has spent most of the season on the bench, registering a dreaded "did not play - coach's decision" in 25 games. Grade: Incomplete.
Coaching
Now that we've seen some inspired play from so many of the players who have been here all season, it begs the question of why they didn't show some fire earlier. Clearly, Adelman couldn't find a way to motivate them, perhaps because the presence of Stojakovic meant there was one holdover too many remaining. Adelman spent many news conferences admitting his own confusion, and it wasn't until Artest arrived that things changed.
But since then, Adelman has done some fine work, showing why he's won 60 percent of the games in his career and leaving the door open for his own return next season. Grade: C
Front office
With so much change in the offseason leading to so many losses, Geoff Petrie and the Maloofs were on the way to a "D" or "F" grade. All moves were made with the core of Stojakovic, Bibby and Miller in mind, their success, leadership and abilities vitally important to the master plan. But together, they weren't the mix they were made out to be, meaning it was time to retool, again. Just as Petrie was starting to feel heat from fans, the Artest trade revived his reputation and his team's season. Grade: C
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
NOTE from VF21: Wow. Grades for the mid-season. What an innovative idea.
Kings' midseason report: The grades are in, and they're not pretty
by Sam Amick
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, February 18, 2006
Anyone seen that infamous piece of paper with the Kings' letterhead? It had Mike Bibby, Bonzi Wells, Peja Stojakovic, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and Brad Miller pegged as one of - if not the best - starting five units in the West, with a foolproof plan outlined for their crowning as Pacific Division champions.
Make that paper champions.
The script has been re-written, burned by both the blockbuster trade that brought Ron Artest to town and injuries that have altered the storyline in the first season of the new era.
The problems before the trade were evident, from a lack of leadership and chemistry to a mix of players that simply didn't seem to complement one another. That much, as blame goes, falls on president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie.
The goal itself has been downgraded, from making serious playoff noise to getting there at all. A playoff appearance would be impressive, considering the franchise is in full transition mode. But what hasn't changed is the need for the players, coaches and front-office types to bring it every day.
Have they?
The disclaimer on the midseason grades: no one on a team that had high expectations and has a 24-29 record deserves an "A" of any kind:
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Before breaking his jaw, he was a pale version of the as-advertised forward who's been a model of productivity his entire career. But Abdur-Rahim has had a long road back from the injury, minimizing his role and dropping his numbers to career-low levels. With plenty of jump-shooters on the roster, he needs to operate in the post more and return to his rebounding ways. Grade: B-
Ron Artest
The newest King has brought energy, toughness and a defensive mind-set to a team that was desperate for all of it. And considering he still isn't in the shape he was at the season's outset in Indiana, his play has been all the more impressive. Of late, though, Artest has been hoisting as many three-pointers as Mike Bibby, not the greatest idea for one of the team's best post-up players. Grade: B+
Mike Bibby
Even one of Bibby's best statistical seasons simply hasn't been enough, as he was one third of the core (with Brad Miller and Peja Stojakovic) that didn't make it happen early in what eventually led to the trade of Stojakovic for Artest. He remains potent as always on offense, and his defense has shown some improvement since Artest's arrival. His 43.1 shooting percentage is just off his career low. Grade: C
Francisco García
Things were pretty ugly for a while, as García spent the first few months of his career jacking up wayward three-pointers, losing his way within the Kings' offensive system, and generally looking lost. But there have been significant improvements since. Grade: C+
Jason Hart
This union just hasn't worked out like it was planned. Yes, Hart brings a defensive tenacity the Kings needed, but it hasn't had the impact one would have thought. Knowing he plays for the Kings, he's tried to score along with the rest of his teammates, but it often comes at the expense of better looks. Grade: C-
Kevin Martin
Suddenly, the question of what the Kings might become next season looks more promising because of the second-year shooting guard. Martin's progress has been rapid, and he is more than productive enough to warrant a starting role for years to come. He leads the league in true shooting percentage (63.3 percent), which takes into account two-point shots, three-pointers and free throws. The Kings are 10-1 when he scores 20-plus points, which is as telling a sign as any. Grade: B
Brad Miller
With much of the team's identity now wrapped up in Miller, it's a mystery how he can be so good on some nights and so bad on others. And for a player who gets blown by or jumped over so often on defense, a consistent offensive output would surely help matters. Grade: C+
Ronnie Price
He's just getting started on his learning curve, but coach Rick Adelman clearly doesn't feel comfortable turning the backup point guard role over to Price just yet. Grade: Incomplete.
Jamal Sampson
The big man who's with his fourth team in as many seasons has hardly stepped out on the court. Grade: Incomplete.
Brian Skinner
When Skinner actually plays, he can affect games, giving opponents reason to pause as they enter the paint. He is one of those players whose statistics will never show his worth, but has only had minutes on an inconsistent basis. Grade: B
Kenny Thomas
Anyone whose ears aren't filled with wax knows Thomas prefers starting, but his ineffectiveness off the bench early on contributed heavily to the Kings' demise. Since, he's been solid as a starter, turning in four consecutive double doubles heading into the break. Grade: C
Bonzi Wells
He was the team MVP before tearing his groin Dec. 19, when he became the guy in the suit at the end of the bench. More than anything, Wells was one of the few who played on both ends of the floor, which is a problem for Bibby and Miller. And he played with a passion that was missing from his running mates. Grade: B+
Corliss Williamson
The "Big Nasty" has spent most of the season on the bench, registering a dreaded "did not play - coach's decision" in 25 games. Grade: Incomplete.
Coaching
Now that we've seen some inspired play from so many of the players who have been here all season, it begs the question of why they didn't show some fire earlier. Clearly, Adelman couldn't find a way to motivate them, perhaps because the presence of Stojakovic meant there was one holdover too many remaining. Adelman spent many news conferences admitting his own confusion, and it wasn't until Artest arrived that things changed.
But since then, Adelman has done some fine work, showing why he's won 60 percent of the games in his career and leaving the door open for his own return next season. Grade: C
Front office
With so much change in the offseason leading to so many losses, Geoff Petrie and the Maloofs were on the way to a "D" or "F" grade. All moves were made with the core of Stojakovic, Bibby and Miller in mind, their success, leadership and abilities vitally important to the master plan. But together, they weren't the mix they were made out to be, meaning it was time to retool, again. Just as Petrie was starting to feel heat from fans, the Artest trade revived his reputation and his team's season. Grade: C
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
NOTE from VF21: Wow. Grades for the mid-season. What an innovative idea.
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