Grades v. Sonics 10/25 (PRE)

[CruzDude]

It's gonna be a long season folks, at least in the early going. I think the Kings will struggle to be 5-5 in the first few weeks. Then once Bibby and Brad get back it will be reorganize all over again. With so many new guys that will be tough.

We need assists from Price, Artest and one of the big guys on a regular basis and we need defensive stops in the middle.... still.

 

[nbrans]

^I agree. There are certain things this team needs to do, like recognize who should be taking the most shots (i.e. not Artest), cover for defensive lapses and figure out how to get people in spots where they can be successful. I'm starting to get the feeling that this could be a long, frustrating, painful season. But if there's going to be a year for an off year, this is it. The upcoming draft is awesome, Kevin Martin looks like he's on his way to stardom and hopefully we'll be in the KG derby. I don't want to stick a fork in the season when it's still preseason, but I don't have a great feeling.

 

[Warhawk]

^I agree. There are certain things this team needs to do, like recognize who should be taking the most shots (i.e. not Artest), cover for defensive lapses and figure out how to get people in spots where they can be successful. I'm starting to get the feeling that this could be a long, frustrating, painful season. But if there's going to be a year for an off year, this is it. The upcoming draft is awesome, Kevin Martin looks like he's on his way to stardom and hopefully we'll be in the KG derby. I don't want to stick a fork in the season when it's still preseason, but I don't have a great feeling.

I think I'm right there with you on this.

 

[bench_blob]

Admundson, should be cut.

Agreed. Dump the bum.

How can you expect to play in the best basketball league in the world and be so inept as a free-thrower???

Pathetic, I can't root for a player with such rudimentary ability and border-line retarded motor skills.

It is like a 12 year old girl could shoot better, I could shoot better with my off-hand; I could granny throw them in with more accuracy.

And to say you are too nervous just shows you don't have the mental toughness to cut it, either.

 

[Bricklayer]

I think we'll be ok this season and in the mix...as long as we stay healthy. So much of the who makes the playoffs in the West this year is just health. Nobody except the top 2-3 teams are so talented they can consistently beat all the playoff contenders missing their top guys. If Mike were to go down for the whole season tommorow, we're lottery bound. Ditto for other teams if they lose Rashard Lewis, or TMac, or AK47 or Camby or Odom or Baron or whoever. Health is going to be so paramount this year.

As for Louis -- apparently he had a big summer league and impressed everyone. But frankly I have NOT seen it and having to listen to the Kings try to talk him up has been more than a little confusing. Are they watching the same guy? What's the attraction? He's only had one preseason game where he looked like anything more than your standard camp fodder. Be interesting to see what happens there. Also be interesting to see what happens with Mo Taylor, who USED to be a true NBAer, but has looked terrible in preseason. Rust? Fitness? Or has he just declined top the point of uselessness? And would Geoff really cut him after just signign him a month ago? Doubt the Maloofs would be amused about that if its a guaranteed deal -- a million out of their pockets for a training camp scrub.

 

[Roman]

Kings would be cellar dwellers without Bibby and Miller. Ugh...

On the bright side most teams would be bottom feeders without 2 of their top 5.

The Spurs without Duncan or Parker.
The Lakers without Kobe or Lamar.
The Mavs without Dirk or Terry.
The Suns without Nash or Diaw.

While I don't think that Bibby/Miller are the greatest thing since sliced bread - we do need Bibby's ability to control the game.

I don't feel like I'm going out on a limb when I say that we win both games with Bibby in and Miller out, whereas we lose both games with Miller in and Bibby out (and no SAR off the bench to make it even).

 

[fnordius]

As for Louis -- apparently he had a big summer league and impressed everyone. But frankly I have NOT seen it and having to listen to the Kings try to talk him up has been more than a little confusing. Are they watching the same guy? What's the attraction?

Maybe we just have to watch him while a few hundred of the UNLV faithful are screaming over his every move, to understand.

I hope that Muss will have the cojones to use the last cut on a guy who has no future as an athlete, whatever the pay rate is. I like Williams, and could maybe even overlook Amundson's FTs, because he's young enough that MAYBE they will get better. But, in all honesty, I'd just as soon see Taylor cut, because he's not making himself an asset either, and I don't see any reason to expect improvement. Ditto for Potapenko, from what tiny bit of evidence we've had. Unless Muss expects to be elsewhere in a couple of years, he should look to the long term. Salmons may be pretty good on his Dr. Jekyll nights, but none of our other new acquisitions are going to make or break the season. Next year, however, they just might.

 

[Double-K]

That run was ended when he turned into Earl Watson and knocked out one of his teeth.

I hope that's just a figure of speech.

 

[tubiscus]

1)

2) Think maybe its possible we are learning what Mike Bibby really means to this team.

I think we're learning AGAIN, what Bobby Jackson meant to this team!