Fandemonium....
- Thread starter BRad1055
- Start date
The team basically warmed up by doing drills for about a half hour. They then split into 2 teams and scrimaged for the rest of the time. Artest looked really good out there. He was hitting shots from everywhere. Kevin Martin also looked really good. I was really impressed with Justin Williams. He was always around the basket fighting for boards. He also dunks the ball whenever possible, which I like. Pooh Jeter is very fast, Amundson looks decent, Douby and Salmons didn't do much, etc...I could go on and on, but I was most impressed with Artest, Martin, and Williams.
It was nice getting to see the new players and coaching staff. As mentioned, Ron was great and Kevin was very sharp. I was impressed by Amundson's hustle. I also enjoyed watching Loren Woods. He was holding his own against Brad. Justin Williams was all over the place. The Big Nasty looked younger than he is.
Bibby was active, but his shots were not falling. Garcia and Taylor both sat out due to minor injuries, although they were there and went through the drills with the team prior to the scrimages. Brad wasn't very involved, nor was Kenny or Shareef all that much.
Bibby was active, but his shots were not falling. Garcia and Taylor both sat out due to minor injuries, although they were there and went through the drills with the team prior to the scrimages. Brad wasn't very involved, nor was Kenny or Shareef all that much.
It was a very fine affair.
We actually got to see what our new players really looked like in competition (for the first time in years at this event), what our offensive and fast break sets will be (multiple! ... and each one stepped-through with Eric M on the PA system calling the sets by name), and still got the up-close-and-personal as each player staffed a concession booth for 10-15 minutes right before the start.
The Maloofs listened and made changes. Congrats and thanx. It was a LOT better than previous recent years.
Although ticket prices remained level for the first time in at least a decade, concession prices predictably edged higher again.
On the players, first off, Garcia and Taylor did not play.
On those that did, CalBears1 was pretty much on target. Artest and KMart looked very, very good on both ends. Kevin looks unstoppable, and this new offense will play to his strengths and get him to the basket more than in the Princeton (how could it not? anything's better than standing in the corner half the time, eh?). Only problem Kevin had was his short-term match-up with Artest who took him inside and handled him with ease. Ron couldn't miss from downtown tonight.
Ron scored 20 points and Kevin notched 16.
Others that played well were Corliss, Brad, and Justin Williams (very active).
Bibby, KT, Price, and SAR didn't do much. Douby is probably not ready for prime time. Salmons and Woods did OK. Hart was all but invisible.
Amundson, Jeter, and Williams, although looking tonight like the NBA is not beyond their reach, are all goners, for sure, with the only question remaining is if any of these guys get kept for the NBDL. Signing Woods and Taylor slammed the door shut on Amundson and Williams. Jeter never had a chance to begin with.
We actually got to see what our new players really looked like in competition (for the first time in years at this event), what our offensive and fast break sets will be (multiple! ... and each one stepped-through with Eric M on the PA system calling the sets by name), and still got the up-close-and-personal as each player staffed a concession booth for 10-15 minutes right before the start.
The Maloofs listened and made changes. Congrats and thanx. It was a LOT better than previous recent years.
Although ticket prices remained level for the first time in at least a decade, concession prices predictably edged higher again.
On the players, first off, Garcia and Taylor did not play.
On those that did, CalBears1 was pretty much on target. Artest and KMart looked very, very good on both ends. Kevin looks unstoppable, and this new offense will play to his strengths and get him to the basket more than in the Princeton (how could it not? anything's better than standing in the corner half the time, eh?). Only problem Kevin had was his short-term match-up with Artest who took him inside and handled him with ease. Ron couldn't miss from downtown tonight.
Ron scored 20 points and Kevin notched 16.
Others that played well were Corliss, Brad, and Justin Williams (very active).
Bibby, KT, Price, and SAR didn't do much. Douby is probably not ready for prime time. Salmons and Woods did OK. Hart was all but invisible.
Amundson, Jeter, and Williams, although looking tonight like the NBA is not beyond their reach, are all goners, for sure, with the only question remaining is if any of these guys get kept for the NBDL. Signing Woods and Taylor slammed the door shut on Amundson and Williams. Jeter never had a chance to begin with.
Maurice Taylor riding exercise bike during Fandemonium
Bibby off the glass to Kevin Martin
I have some other vids, none that great. I'll get 'em up later and post them.
Bibby off the glass to Kevin Martin
I have some other vids, none that great. I'll get 'em up later and post them.
I did have a very pleasant experience. I was outside talking with a very nice man about the new players, coaching staff, etc. We talked about the summer league, the tournaments that Ron puts on in New York, the coaching change, and Ron's leadership. We also talked about the Maloofs and the need for a new arena.
I could go into much more detail as it was a very nice and long conversation. In fact, we had been talking for quite some time before I discovered that he is Ron Artest's father-in-law.
What I liked the most was his disclosure that Ron is very very happy here. In fact, he is probably the happiest he has ever been. While he loved Indiana, he has now sold all his property there and brought all his collection of vehicles to Sacramento. He loves all the new young talent on the Kings, and is happy with his opportunity to work with them and share his expertise.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening for me.
I could go into much more detail as it was a very nice and long conversation. In fact, we had been talking for quite some time before I discovered that he is Ron Artest's father-in-law.
What I liked the most was his disclosure that Ron is very very happy here. In fact, he is probably the happiest he has ever been. While he loved Indiana, he has now sold all his property there and brought all his collection of vehicles to Sacramento. He loves all the new young talent on the Kings, and is happy with his opportunity to work with them and share his expertise.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable evening for me.
Coach Musselman's speaks to the crowd 00:58
Kings warming up 00:45
Kings going thru some offensive sets 1 00:46
Kings going thru some offensive sets 2 00:28
Kings warming up 00:27
Bibby off the glass to Kevin Martin 00:03
Bibby alley oop attempt to Martin, Amundson cleans up 00:05
Maurice Taylor riding exercise bike during Fandemonium 00:06
Ronnie Price throwdown 00:09
Dog Show @ Kings Fandemonium 00:29
Amundson blocks Martin 00:07
Kings warming up 00:45
Kings going thru some offensive sets 1 00:46
Kings going thru some offensive sets 2 00:28
Kings warming up 00:27
Bibby off the glass to Kevin Martin 00:03
Bibby alley oop attempt to Martin, Amundson cleans up 00:05
Maurice Taylor riding exercise bike during Fandemonium 00:06
Ronnie Price throwdown 00:09
Dog Show @ Kings Fandemonium 00:29
Amundson blocks Martin 00:07
Way to bum me out dude...
I've been rooting for Williams from the start, I love shotblockers.
...What really sucks is that he sounds like he'll already be bringing more than Woods or Taylor.
Maybe he'll impress enough that the Maloofs will bite the bullet and waive some expirings like Pota or something.
I've been rooting for Williams from the start, I love shotblockers.
...What really sucks is that he sounds like he'll already be bringing more than Woods or Taylor.
Maybe he'll impress enough that the Maloofs will bite the bullet and waive some expirings like Pota or something.
Kevin Martin - WOW!!!!
I had a good time last night. This Fandemonium was different than past. it seems that last night it was all business. No 3 point contest, no slam dunk contest, no dance contest. All basketball. that was a change. I wonder does that speak to the focus of Coach Musselman compared to Coach Adleman.
I think I am going to enjoy watching Kevin Martin this season. MAN!!!
Has this guy improved. Just his basketball IQ and his savvy going to the basket with his studder-steps, his start and stop and his excelleration and explosiveness.
I would like to make a prediction for K-Mart this season. 18 ppg, 5-6 rpg, and he will be up to the top of the league in free throw attempts.
I had a good time last night. This Fandemonium was different than past. it seems that last night it was all business. No 3 point contest, no slam dunk contest, no dance contest. All basketball. that was a change. I wonder does that speak to the focus of Coach Musselman compared to Coach Adleman.
I think I am going to enjoy watching Kevin Martin this season. MAN!!!
Has this guy improved. Just his basketball IQ and his savvy going to the basket with his studder-steps, his start and stop and his excelleration and explosiveness.I would like to make a prediction for K-Mart this season. 18 ppg, 5-6 rpg, and he will be up to the top of the league in free throw attempts.
Random Thoughts...
Here are some random thoughts from last night in no particular order:
Here are some random thoughts from last night in no particular order:
- This season we have a coach that is ALL business. From the way the players conduct themselves, to the veritable army of assistants all wearing borg-like head units to converse with each other and the players from across the court, this is the most serious I have seen the team in ages. No flowery, rah-rah speech from Muss, just a 'we are gonna work our butt off to win'.
- The ball looks like an orange NERF ball. Will take a lot of getting used to.
- Martin has arrived. He has Kobe swagger now, and he backs it up with clutch shooting, lightning speed to the bucket, and the confidence that he will now get the calls. He may be our high scorer this year. Write it down that I said it.
- Bibby looks MUCH smaller, and he did a pretty good job of staying in front of his man. Brad looked much bigger, but he still moves slow. Was making his short jumpers, though.
- Amundsen, Williams and Jeter all were very active and could all be 11-12th men, if not for our glut of folks now. Hart is gone. Woods was huge, Potatopancake was enormous and slow (think Ent from Lord of the Rings).
- Salmons obviously has athleticism, but not the confidence yet. I can see how playing behind and with Iverson could break a player. Will be interesting to see if he can develop more.
- It was so very telling how not all the Maloofs were there, and how there was ZERO mention of what should have been the most important thing on everyone's minds: the arena initiatives which will keep the team in Sac. It seems pretty clear that the Kings brain trust has, if not actually wanting to move, decided that it is inevitable that the measures won't pass and they are thinking that this is a lame duck finale season here in Sac. No rah rah speech from a Maloof this year is pretty telling.
Eh. Don't read too much into that. Q & R are almost certainly going to be defeated but it most likely means that we go back to the drawing board again, not that the Kings announce they're leaving the day after the election tallies. For one, Stern has to approve the move and he has never let a popular team leave a city before. It could happen, but we aren't there yet.
Arena deals are always complicated.
Arena deals are always complicated.
