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http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/460240.html
Theus begins first season playing with a short stack
The only sure thing? If hustle and team play don't occur, 'that's my fault'
By Sam Amick - samick@sacbee.com
Last Updated 6:24 am PDT Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Story appeared in PROJECTS section, Page KINGS TIPOFF2
There is a downside to all of this, to be sure.
The Kings' Nov. 6 home opener against the Seattle SuperSonics, for one, has yet to sell out, and there isn't a better indicator of the climate change in Sacramento. And if the locals aren't watching as intently, the rest of the country is surely tuning out, too.
The current barometer? Three national television games are on tap, a pittance compared to the 22 last season. Which says nothing of the ripple effect on those ongoing arena discussions, with details surrounding the Cal Expo concept remaining sketchy but public support certainly a desired factor as far as the Kings are concerned.
But as first-year coach Reggie Theus tries his hand this season, even with the deck stacked against him with the recent injury to point guard Mike Bibby, the upside is hard to ignore. Lowered expectations, strange as it sounds, can be a good thing, especially for a franchise that can't very well re-sign Chris Webber, Vlade Divac and Co. and re-create the eight consecutive playoff berths that remain the benchmark.
Talk of 50-victory seasons has been trumped by requests for good old-fashioned effort, some offensive highlights and plenty of gusto on defense to show the fans you care. In other words, it's a return to the mid-1980s when Theus played with the Kings.
The tricky part, of course, is recapturing some of the Sacramento spirit that made this city's relationship with its team unique while avoiding the plummet in the standings that came with it. Bibby's absence, of course, would appear to make that a near-impossible task, and Theus has taken the us-against-the-world approach in trying to keep up the spirits in the locker room.
"I had a conversation with my guys, and I told them, 'Hey, there are a lot of people who have already written you off. But there's crazier things that have happened,' " Theus said.
And at least one player with enough blind optimism to think all will be well.
"We'll be fine," Kings small forward Ron Artest said when asked about the impact of Bibby's absence. "We'll be all right. When he gets back, we'll be that much better."
As a starting point, the Sacramento era's first star has promised this much. There will be discipline, as evidenced by the Reggie Rules that include road curfews and cell-phone bans on the team bus. There will be accountability, with playing time based solely on effort and productivity, not the size of a player's salary. There will be a reality check, the acknowledgement that this roster – as it stands now – must be maximized by way of the basics.
"This may not be the reality of the job itself, but I don't make a basket, nobody's going around me, I'm not the one who didn't dive on the floor after a loose ball," Theus said. "I know that as a player, I did those things.
"I dove on the floor, I made my share of baskets, I had a professional attitude. I was proud to be in the NBA, thought it was an honor to be in the NBA. I lived that ... . If I can instill some of those values into my players, that's how I'll judge my job. Because if you do those things, you're going to win your share of basketball games."
Upon buying a house in the Sacramento area recently, Theus told Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof that they'd better not ponder the idea of making a third coaching change in four years. In this real estate market, especially, it's just not the time to sell. The consensus among some in the organization, however, is that Theus is secure for at least a couple of years as long as the record – on and off the floor – is close to respectable.
It's less an endorsement of Theus than it is a reflection of recent history, with plenty of fans still wishing Rick Adelman ran the show and a near consensus that Eric Musselman did little to usher in an era of any relevance, reverence or respectability. It's more about pressure being lifted, with Theus being the obvious benefactor.
For now, his energy is enough. At last week's Kings Fandemonium event at Arco Arena, Theus controlled the microphone, greeting season-ticket holders with team basketball president Geoff Petrie. Theus introduced his coaching staff and joked that his assistants could beat any other staff in the NBA in a pickup game.
As for his actual players, the questions and uncertainty that began last season continue. Some see so many similar faces from the 2005-06 Kings team that pushed San Antonio in the playoffs and deduce that they can still be competitive. Others – such as a handful of national writers who have pegged the Kings to win fewer than 30 games – see a disjointed group worthy only of minimal success even before Bibby went down.
The uncertainty has roots aplenty, with question marks hovering over both new additions and old faces.
Forward Mikki Moore averaged 38 games through his first eight seasons before breaking out in New Jersey last season en route to a three-year, $17 million payday in Sacramento. Spencer Hawes didn't finish unpacking before a pre-training camp knee twist led to a setback. His arthroscopic surgery raised questions about the durability of the young 7-footer's frame, and only time will be able to quiet those critics.
Bibby was on his way to answering the question of whether the longest-tenured King would go along with the gamble that was Theus' hiring. He had shown a willingness to defend, drew rave reviews for his leadership and finally had broken out of an exhibition-season shooting slump in his final game before the injury.
Theus comes with playing credentials aplenty and the local tie, but it can't be forgotten that he brings nothing in the way of NBA coaching cred. His two seasons as a Louisville assistant were fortune-filled, from his experience under the legendary Rick Pitino to the Final Four appearance that raised Theus' coaching profile.
Then came the dream job at New Mexico State, with Theus turning around a program and generating the buzz the Kings now lack.
Bibby just wasn't Bibby last season, Artest managed to overshadow a quality statistical season with off-court trouble, and there is no shortage of other veterans whose play has been disappointing. Yet Theus wants a chance to get the most out of this roster.
When the summer trade rumors surrounding Bibby and Artest died down, Theus made it known that he saw promise in these Kings. A likely slow start could mean the roster reshuffle so many expected during the offseason. Or maybe the start of another new era leads to an eventual upswing.
"You're dealt a crappy hand, and you've got to play it," Theus said. "That's the bottom line. You've got nothing to lose, so why not leave it all out on the floor? Eighty-two games is a long time, and there's a lot that can happen."
The winning, once expected, would be merely appreciated. That's the upside, if nothing else.
About the writer: Call The Bee's Sam Amick, (916) 326-5582.
http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/460240.html
Theus begins first season playing with a short stack
The only sure thing? If hustle and team play don't occur, 'that's my fault'
By Sam Amick - samick@sacbee.com
Last Updated 6:24 am PDT Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Story appeared in PROJECTS section, Page KINGS TIPOFF2
There is a downside to all of this, to be sure.
The Kings' Nov. 6 home opener against the Seattle SuperSonics, for one, has yet to sell out, and there isn't a better indicator of the climate change in Sacramento. And if the locals aren't watching as intently, the rest of the country is surely tuning out, too.
The current barometer? Three national television games are on tap, a pittance compared to the 22 last season. Which says nothing of the ripple effect on those ongoing arena discussions, with details surrounding the Cal Expo concept remaining sketchy but public support certainly a desired factor as far as the Kings are concerned.
But as first-year coach Reggie Theus tries his hand this season, even with the deck stacked against him with the recent injury to point guard Mike Bibby, the upside is hard to ignore. Lowered expectations, strange as it sounds, can be a good thing, especially for a franchise that can't very well re-sign Chris Webber, Vlade Divac and Co. and re-create the eight consecutive playoff berths that remain the benchmark.
Talk of 50-victory seasons has been trumped by requests for good old-fashioned effort, some offensive highlights and plenty of gusto on defense to show the fans you care. In other words, it's a return to the mid-1980s when Theus played with the Kings.
The tricky part, of course, is recapturing some of the Sacramento spirit that made this city's relationship with its team unique while avoiding the plummet in the standings that came with it. Bibby's absence, of course, would appear to make that a near-impossible task, and Theus has taken the us-against-the-world approach in trying to keep up the spirits in the locker room.
"I had a conversation with my guys, and I told them, 'Hey, there are a lot of people who have already written you off. But there's crazier things that have happened,' " Theus said.
And at least one player with enough blind optimism to think all will be well.
"We'll be fine," Kings small forward Ron Artest said when asked about the impact of Bibby's absence. "We'll be all right. When he gets back, we'll be that much better."
As a starting point, the Sacramento era's first star has promised this much. There will be discipline, as evidenced by the Reggie Rules that include road curfews and cell-phone bans on the team bus. There will be accountability, with playing time based solely on effort and productivity, not the size of a player's salary. There will be a reality check, the acknowledgement that this roster – as it stands now – must be maximized by way of the basics.
"This may not be the reality of the job itself, but I don't make a basket, nobody's going around me, I'm not the one who didn't dive on the floor after a loose ball," Theus said. "I know that as a player, I did those things.
"I dove on the floor, I made my share of baskets, I had a professional attitude. I was proud to be in the NBA, thought it was an honor to be in the NBA. I lived that ... . If I can instill some of those values into my players, that's how I'll judge my job. Because if you do those things, you're going to win your share of basketball games."
Upon buying a house in the Sacramento area recently, Theus told Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof that they'd better not ponder the idea of making a third coaching change in four years. In this real estate market, especially, it's just not the time to sell. The consensus among some in the organization, however, is that Theus is secure for at least a couple of years as long as the record – on and off the floor – is close to respectable.
It's less an endorsement of Theus than it is a reflection of recent history, with plenty of fans still wishing Rick Adelman ran the show and a near consensus that Eric Musselman did little to usher in an era of any relevance, reverence or respectability. It's more about pressure being lifted, with Theus being the obvious benefactor.
For now, his energy is enough. At last week's Kings Fandemonium event at Arco Arena, Theus controlled the microphone, greeting season-ticket holders with team basketball president Geoff Petrie. Theus introduced his coaching staff and joked that his assistants could beat any other staff in the NBA in a pickup game.
As for his actual players, the questions and uncertainty that began last season continue. Some see so many similar faces from the 2005-06 Kings team that pushed San Antonio in the playoffs and deduce that they can still be competitive. Others – such as a handful of national writers who have pegged the Kings to win fewer than 30 games – see a disjointed group worthy only of minimal success even before Bibby went down.
The uncertainty has roots aplenty, with question marks hovering over both new additions and old faces.
Forward Mikki Moore averaged 38 games through his first eight seasons before breaking out in New Jersey last season en route to a three-year, $17 million payday in Sacramento. Spencer Hawes didn't finish unpacking before a pre-training camp knee twist led to a setback. His arthroscopic surgery raised questions about the durability of the young 7-footer's frame, and only time will be able to quiet those critics.
Bibby was on his way to answering the question of whether the longest-tenured King would go along with the gamble that was Theus' hiring. He had shown a willingness to defend, drew rave reviews for his leadership and finally had broken out of an exhibition-season shooting slump in his final game before the injury.
Theus comes with playing credentials aplenty and the local tie, but it can't be forgotten that he brings nothing in the way of NBA coaching cred. His two seasons as a Louisville assistant were fortune-filled, from his experience under the legendary Rick Pitino to the Final Four appearance that raised Theus' coaching profile.
Then came the dream job at New Mexico State, with Theus turning around a program and generating the buzz the Kings now lack.
Bibby just wasn't Bibby last season, Artest managed to overshadow a quality statistical season with off-court trouble, and there is no shortage of other veterans whose play has been disappointing. Yet Theus wants a chance to get the most out of this roster.
When the summer trade rumors surrounding Bibby and Artest died down, Theus made it known that he saw promise in these Kings. A likely slow start could mean the roster reshuffle so many expected during the offseason. Or maybe the start of another new era leads to an eventual upswing.
"You're dealt a crappy hand, and you've got to play it," Theus said. "That's the bottom line. You've got nothing to lose, so why not leave it all out on the floor? Eighty-two games is a long time, and there's a lot that can happen."
The winning, once expected, would be merely appreciated. That's the upside, if nothing else.
About the writer: Call The Bee's Sam Amick, (916) 326-5582.
