Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
11-44 baby! But if you saw this one, it was a much "better" loss. We were competitive. We just suck.
I am thinking I may try to exert myself for these final 29 games and do a theme a night. Pretty Girls will be saved for the blowouts of course, but I might be able to come up with 29 groupings (ok, maybe 20 groupings and 9 sets of pretty girls) to keep the loss parade fresh. First off here, I am going to go with the 4th set of Top 10 Kings players -- Top 10 Shooting Guards in Sacramento Kings History
Cisco ( B ) -- started this game off in complete nothing fashion as he was apparently overwhelmed by the Hawks' numerous bigger and more ahtletic wings at SF. Got one quick hitting jumper on the semi break, that was it, and was not evne a participant in our big run at the end of the second quarter. And then, just because he is Cisco (and one of our players) confusingly came out in the third and completely turned it around, knifing into the Hawks defense at will (apparently they do not believe in stopping penetration no matter who drives the ball) as he carried our offense in the quarter. Did a good job defensively on a sluggish Joe Johnson during that stretch as well. Stepped forward in the final minutes trying to play the hero with a two and then a three, but as usual got overexcited and quick shot up a brick immediately therafter. Once Spencer fouled out, was once again our "PF" (something that will hopefully stop once Nocioni hits town) down the stretch, and got worked on the glass on several of those possessions while Jason jumped around frantically trying to battle both the Hawks bigs at once. Jason might be able to sue Natt for criminal lack of support inside.
#1 Mitch Richmond
Career Stats
With Kings: 91-98
Best Year With The Kings: 96-97 25.9pts 3.9reb 4.2ast 1.5stl 0.3blk
There could only be one choice for this spot obviously. The Rock WAS Sacramento Kings basketball in the 1990s. Never quite a true superstar in the era of MJ and Drexler, he was that "best of the rest" star level guy who was in all ways, truly a rock. He did it all, every night, year after year after year for a hopeless franchise, and unlike the next two men on this list played both sides of the ball with equal enthusiasm.
Thompson ( C- ) -- had the size advanatge, but seemed to struggle against the Hawks mobile frontline. And frankly, Jason needs to pull his head out now and quit these recent struggles, because his GM just imported 4 more PFs (to give us EIGHT!! -- JT, Nocioni, KT, Sheldon, Gooden, Moore, Simmons, Diogu) to steal his minutes. Got several shots knocked away inside per usual in the third and then foul trouble took over again, and just nothing. Came back in late with Spencer finally fouling out with 3 minutes to go after having played virtually the whole game, and came up with a late block and an active rebound or two as the only big out there in the smallball lineup to elevate this one slightly. Gave him another half tick in what may have been too much charity, because Josh Smith was jsut as bad, and may have been bothered by Jason's mobility asnd size. Maybe. Because for most of the night it looked like Josh had just smoked a bowl with Brad on his way outta town until he shook off the effects to be a factor down the stretch. In any case, half tick there, half tiock there, but still a poor game, and as I mentioned, competition is about to flood the roster.
#2 Kevin Martin
Career Stats
With Kings: 04-09
Best Year With The Kings: 07-08 23.7pts 4.5reb 2.1ast 1.0stl 0.1blk 3.5flops
Now this choice is likely more controversial than the undoubted king of the heap at #1, because the beloved guy at #3 had a compeltely opposite game, and was a winner because of it. But with apologies to Doug, he was a great great role player. And while Kevin is not truly great, only plays one side of the ball, doesn't make teammates better etc. etc., he is still a very good scorer in the NBA and figures to one day have a shot at making some All Star teams if we ever start winning again.
Hawes ( B ) -- looked good on offense early agains the undersized Hawks, but Hroford was all over the glass against him. But we kept on playing him -- oh did we keep on playing him (he played 43 minutes tonight, and had rested only 2 minutes by the time he fouled out with 3 minutes to go). And his play was steady throughout -- the boardwork picked up as he used his height advantage in there, and he eventually tried a career high (although still nabbing 4 fewer than his opponent). He dropped in one or two more nice post moves, that left you wondering why there were not more -- seemed he could just go over the top when he felt like it. Got a piece of a fewq shots inside, but ]missed his jumpers and had trouble containing Horford the other way, and got careless with the ball several times. This was not truly a great game. But it was a steady one throughout as our one consistent interior guy, and in general 10pts 14 rebs, even with 4 TOs and 6 fouls is the sort of nice steady interior play we need out of Spencer now that Brad is gone and he is the man in there.
#3 Doug Christie
Career Stats
With Kings: 00-04
Best Year With The Kings: 01-02 12.0pts 4.6reb 4.2ast 2.0stl 0.3blk
And if Kevin is #2, there was no doubt who was going to be #3. Kevin's polar opposite, it was ironic when Kevin was drafted that people wanted to compare the two because they were both 6'7" and scrawny. But where Kevin is all offense, Doug was all defense and heart. He truly did give his all for this franchise through its best years, and truly did love it here, and was loved in return. His unselfishness and team oriented play would be a good model for any number of current Kings who can't figure out why they keep losing despite pretty stats and hefty contracts.
Martin ( A- ) -- very active response to the trades as maybe Kevin was coming out and reattempting to put his stamp on the reworked team after the trades. Either that or the Hawks coach is just an idiot who had no idea how to guard him. More on that later. In any case Kevin scored easily and often in the first half, getting to the line and taking advantage of the lack of a Hawks backcourt stopper. Led a huge 19-2 rush to close the frirst half. Well...actually Mike Woodson led it by being an idiot of a coach, but Kevin certainly took advanatge and attacked the Hawks at will as they apparently experimented with zones they do not know how to play, kept on having 6'11" Solomon Jones trying to check Kevin, and generally collapsed into a disorganized rabble. Was breaking down the defense with penetration and even passing sometimes on a night when he had 32 for himself, but in a welcome change created a number of shots for his teammates. Was also on the glass in a way you rarely see out of him -- his boardwork this season has been amongst the worst of any starting OG in the league, but tonight he grabbed 11 (funny thing too because early in the game it looked like more of the same as he was caught blatantly flatfooted on a rebound as Mo Evans swooped around him for the ofensive board, but he became very active thereafter). Even was more active than usual on defense, and other than th usual invisibility cloaks handed out to our opponents around the perimeter, battled pretty well in the post against the Hawks variousfreaky athletic swing players. Unfortunately most of the big push and numbers came in the first half. Had 24 by halftime, only 8 therafter. Hit a coupe of jumpers in the third and early 4th, but the dynacism was gone, and he started clanking them as the 4th went along. Was out for a few minutes, and contributed nothing after returning for the stretch. With us down 2 and 36 seconds to go we called a play for him, but he either got the shot blocked along the baseline, or lost control of it looking for the whistle, and even though he got it back, that was that. Did grab a few late boards, but had zero points in the final 8-9 minutes of this tight game, and there was no John around to blame for it. So big game played mostly the "right way" (i.e. actual contributions across the board, not just numbers), and a huge spurt at the end of the first half. But ultimately had to go with the minus for the late fade and disappearance with the game on the line.
#4 Danny Ainge
Career Stats
With Kings: 89-90
Best Year With The Kings: 89-90 17.9pts 4.3reb 6.9ast 1.5stl 0.2blk
And once I called Eddie Johnson a SF, and decided that Reggie was a PG (those early losing teams were full of soft 6'7" shooters just like our crew today), it opened things up for Danny Ainge. Yes, Danny Ainge of the Celtics dynasty was a King for a year (and a half). Must have been whiplash for the poor guy when he arrived from 3 titles in Beantown, and Jerry Reynolds likes to relate the funny story (Reynolds was coach at the time) of Ainge coming up to him and telling him in regards to our losing ways at the time "I think I know what your problem is -- I'm your best player". And he may have been -- the 4th or 5th best guy in Boston, a Doug type roleplayer (without the defense), he showed up in Sacto and was given the role of star. He did pretty well with it for a year, but I'm sure was just as relieved to get traded up to Portland to resume the winning ways as roleplayer rather than losing as a star.
I am thinking I may try to exert myself for these final 29 games and do a theme a night. Pretty Girls will be saved for the blowouts of course, but I might be able to come up with 29 groupings (ok, maybe 20 groupings and 9 sets of pretty girls) to keep the loss parade fresh. First off here, I am going to go with the 4th set of Top 10 Kings players -- Top 10 Shooting Guards in Sacramento Kings History
Cisco ( B ) -- started this game off in complete nothing fashion as he was apparently overwhelmed by the Hawks' numerous bigger and more ahtletic wings at SF. Got one quick hitting jumper on the semi break, that was it, and was not evne a participant in our big run at the end of the second quarter. And then, just because he is Cisco (and one of our players) confusingly came out in the third and completely turned it around, knifing into the Hawks defense at will (apparently they do not believe in stopping penetration no matter who drives the ball) as he carried our offense in the quarter. Did a good job defensively on a sluggish Joe Johnson during that stretch as well. Stepped forward in the final minutes trying to play the hero with a two and then a three, but as usual got overexcited and quick shot up a brick immediately therafter. Once Spencer fouled out, was once again our "PF" (something that will hopefully stop once Nocioni hits town) down the stretch, and got worked on the glass on several of those possessions while Jason jumped around frantically trying to battle both the Hawks bigs at once. Jason might be able to sue Natt for criminal lack of support inside.
#1 Mitch Richmond
Career Stats
With Kings: 91-98
Best Year With The Kings: 96-97 25.9pts 3.9reb 4.2ast 1.5stl 0.3blk
There could only be one choice for this spot obviously. The Rock WAS Sacramento Kings basketball in the 1990s. Never quite a true superstar in the era of MJ and Drexler, he was that "best of the rest" star level guy who was in all ways, truly a rock. He did it all, every night, year after year after year for a hopeless franchise, and unlike the next two men on this list played both sides of the ball with equal enthusiasm.
Thompson ( C- ) -- had the size advanatge, but seemed to struggle against the Hawks mobile frontline. And frankly, Jason needs to pull his head out now and quit these recent struggles, because his GM just imported 4 more PFs (to give us EIGHT!! -- JT, Nocioni, KT, Sheldon, Gooden, Moore, Simmons, Diogu) to steal his minutes. Got several shots knocked away inside per usual in the third and then foul trouble took over again, and just nothing. Came back in late with Spencer finally fouling out with 3 minutes to go after having played virtually the whole game, and came up with a late block and an active rebound or two as the only big out there in the smallball lineup to elevate this one slightly. Gave him another half tick in what may have been too much charity, because Josh Smith was jsut as bad, and may have been bothered by Jason's mobility asnd size. Maybe. Because for most of the night it looked like Josh had just smoked a bowl with Brad on his way outta town until he shook off the effects to be a factor down the stretch. In any case, half tick there, half tiock there, but still a poor game, and as I mentioned, competition is about to flood the roster.
#2 Kevin Martin
Career Stats
With Kings: 04-09
Best Year With The Kings: 07-08 23.7pts 4.5reb 2.1ast 1.0stl 0.1blk 3.5flops
Now this choice is likely more controversial than the undoubted king of the heap at #1, because the beloved guy at #3 had a compeltely opposite game, and was a winner because of it. But with apologies to Doug, he was a great great role player. And while Kevin is not truly great, only plays one side of the ball, doesn't make teammates better etc. etc., he is still a very good scorer in the NBA and figures to one day have a shot at making some All Star teams if we ever start winning again.
Hawes ( B ) -- looked good on offense early agains the undersized Hawks, but Hroford was all over the glass against him. But we kept on playing him -- oh did we keep on playing him (he played 43 minutes tonight, and had rested only 2 minutes by the time he fouled out with 3 minutes to go). And his play was steady throughout -- the boardwork picked up as he used his height advantage in there, and he eventually tried a career high (although still nabbing 4 fewer than his opponent). He dropped in one or two more nice post moves, that left you wondering why there were not more -- seemed he could just go over the top when he felt like it. Got a piece of a fewq shots inside, but ]missed his jumpers and had trouble containing Horford the other way, and got careless with the ball several times. This was not truly a great game. But it was a steady one throughout as our one consistent interior guy, and in general 10pts 14 rebs, even with 4 TOs and 6 fouls is the sort of nice steady interior play we need out of Spencer now that Brad is gone and he is the man in there.
#3 Doug Christie
Career Stats
With Kings: 00-04
Best Year With The Kings: 01-02 12.0pts 4.6reb 4.2ast 2.0stl 0.3blk
And if Kevin is #2, there was no doubt who was going to be #3. Kevin's polar opposite, it was ironic when Kevin was drafted that people wanted to compare the two because they were both 6'7" and scrawny. But where Kevin is all offense, Doug was all defense and heart. He truly did give his all for this franchise through its best years, and truly did love it here, and was loved in return. His unselfishness and team oriented play would be a good model for any number of current Kings who can't figure out why they keep losing despite pretty stats and hefty contracts.
Martin ( A- ) -- very active response to the trades as maybe Kevin was coming out and reattempting to put his stamp on the reworked team after the trades. Either that or the Hawks coach is just an idiot who had no idea how to guard him. More on that later. In any case Kevin scored easily and often in the first half, getting to the line and taking advantage of the lack of a Hawks backcourt stopper. Led a huge 19-2 rush to close the frirst half. Well...actually Mike Woodson led it by being an idiot of a coach, but Kevin certainly took advanatge and attacked the Hawks at will as they apparently experimented with zones they do not know how to play, kept on having 6'11" Solomon Jones trying to check Kevin, and generally collapsed into a disorganized rabble. Was breaking down the defense with penetration and even passing sometimes on a night when he had 32 for himself, but in a welcome change created a number of shots for his teammates. Was also on the glass in a way you rarely see out of him -- his boardwork this season has been amongst the worst of any starting OG in the league, but tonight he grabbed 11 (funny thing too because early in the game it looked like more of the same as he was caught blatantly flatfooted on a rebound as Mo Evans swooped around him for the ofensive board, but he became very active thereafter). Even was more active than usual on defense, and other than th usual invisibility cloaks handed out to our opponents around the perimeter, battled pretty well in the post against the Hawks variousfreaky athletic swing players. Unfortunately most of the big push and numbers came in the first half. Had 24 by halftime, only 8 therafter. Hit a coupe of jumpers in the third and early 4th, but the dynacism was gone, and he started clanking them as the 4th went along. Was out for a few minutes, and contributed nothing after returning for the stretch. With us down 2 and 36 seconds to go we called a play for him, but he either got the shot blocked along the baseline, or lost control of it looking for the whistle, and even though he got it back, that was that. Did grab a few late boards, but had zero points in the final 8-9 minutes of this tight game, and there was no John around to blame for it. So big game played mostly the "right way" (i.e. actual contributions across the board, not just numbers), and a huge spurt at the end of the first half. But ultimately had to go with the minus for the late fade and disappearance with the game on the line.
#4 Danny Ainge
Career Stats
With Kings: 89-90
Best Year With The Kings: 89-90 17.9pts 4.3reb 6.9ast 1.5stl 0.2blk
And once I called Eddie Johnson a SF, and decided that Reggie was a PG (those early losing teams were full of soft 6'7" shooters just like our crew today), it opened things up for Danny Ainge. Yes, Danny Ainge of the Celtics dynasty was a King for a year (and a half). Must have been whiplash for the poor guy when he arrived from 3 titles in Beantown, and Jerry Reynolds likes to relate the funny story (Reynolds was coach at the time) of Ainge coming up to him and telling him in regards to our losing ways at the time "I think I know what your problem is -- I'm your best player". And he may have been -- the 4th or 5th best guy in Boston, a Doug type roleplayer (without the defense), he showed up in Sacto and was given the role of star. He did pretty well with it for a year, but I'm sure was just as relieved to get traded up to Portland to resume the winning ways as roleplayer rather than losing as a star.
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