hard to understand THIS LEVEL of negativity

R

Rain man

Starter
I don't post much on the board and I have only been a member since the end of last season, but I have been a fan from the beginining (well since my first memories of being a Sports fan around 1988). I know a lot of you have like me have seen all of the horror that can come with being a fan of this team. We have been fans through the Ricky Berry fiasco, Bobby Hurley, the days when we started Billy Owens AND Olden Polynice on the same team, Pervis Ellison, the 43 game road losing streak, and on and on and on. Hell, even the good times of being a Kings fan have had their painful moments- John Stockton's game winner and Vlade's missed hook vs. the Jazz, the sweep against the Lakers, Robert Horry, the Webber injury, the rimmed out 3 from CWebb vs. the Timberwolves.

The point of all of this is that Kings fans have never really gone into "full despair mode," over these things. There has been a lot of frustration, a lot of anger, a lot of disbelief, but never full on despair. But that is what I am sensing right now on this board, and frankly I don't get it. I understand that not everyone feels this way, and not everyone has counted this season as a lost cause, and everyone is still rooting for the Kings with 110% of their heart, but I don't understand the diminished expectations basically overnight.

As far as I can tell, as late as the Saturday night victory over Portland this board was very positive about the prospects of the season. No one is calling us a contender, but certainly a legit contender to the ultimate contender San Antonio. Then, over the course of two preseason games the wheels of this message board completely fell off.

Folks- it is TWO PRESEASON GAMES. Hell, even if it was TWO REGULAR SEASON games I wouldnot be as concerned as some of you. Teams go through slumps, don't always play well, sometimes revert to poor Defense and me-first attitudes. It happens with all teams. It happens MORE OFTEN when teams are very new to each other. Most of these guys have played together for a month, give them some time to get things together and learn each other's strengths and weaknesses. A slow start does not doom your season (just ask the Houston Astros, Oakland A's, the Spurs team that won the title the year they started like 10-12, etc...)

I am not blind- Bibby has been bad, Miller not very good, SAR not assertive, the defense bad, a lot of concern over me-first attitudes etc... But folks, the preseason is where you work out the kinks. Before these bad games, we looked very good against Portland, Golden State and the Clippers. Adelman is still mixing and matching lineups to figure out his best rotation. One of the ugly losses came against Phoenix when it was our second team against their first team much of the night. There are still problems, but give the guys a chance to learn about each other, and RA a chance to learn about his players and best rotations before you write off the season.

AGAIN- I am NOT NOT NOT challenging anyone in here as a fan of the team. I know you all love the Kings and want to see success for the team. I am just saying I think we are all being a bit hasty in saying this will be a long season based on one game....
 
Last edited:
Thanks for posting what many of us feel.
I was trying to find a way to say what you have just done very well.
Thanks again!
 
Rain man - I know what you're trying to say, but I think part of what you're sensing is from people who haven't been through what we old-timers have. They didn't start following the Kings until they realized they were around. Face it, unless you were really a fan of basketball back then, there wasn't much to draw you in to the Kings experience until 1999.

The point of all of this is that Kings fans have never really gone into "full despair mode," over these things. There has been a lot of frustration, a lot of anger, a lot of disbelief, but never full on despair. But that is what I am sensing right now on this board, and frankly I don't get it. I understand that not everyone feels this way, and not everyone has counted this season as a lost cause, and everyone is still rooting for the Kings with 110% of their heart, but I don't understand the diminished expectations basically overnight.
Click to expand...

The diminished expectations phenomena (or "Sky is fallling syndrome") is a common occurrence. It generally happens after EVERY loss. Granted, it's starting a little early this year, but it's not unheard of.

;)

Don't worry. The team DOES have a lot to work on, but we - as fans - only have one job. We have to keep cheering...and keep supporting them at the games. Regardless of the hand wringing that goes on around here, there are still lots of us who bleed purple clean to the bone.

:D
 
VF21 said:
Rain man - I know what you're trying to say, but I think part of what you're sensing is from people who haven't been through what we old-timers have. They didn't start following the Kings until they realized they were around. Face it, unless you were really a fan of basketball back then, there wasn't much to draw you in to the Kings experience until 1999.



The diminished expectations phenomena (or "Sky is fallling syndrome") is a common occurrence. It generally happens after EVERY loss. Granted, it's starting a little early this year, but it's not unheard of.

;)

Don't worry. The team DOES have a lot to work on, but we - as fans - only have one job. We have to keep cheering...and keep supporting them at the games. Regardless of the hand wringing that goes on around here, there are still lots of us who bleed purple clean to the bone.

:D
Click to expand...
Nice words, VF.
 
VF21 said:
The diminished expectations phenomena (or "Sky is fallling syndrome") is a common occurrence. It generally happens after EVERY loss. Granted, it's starting a little early this year, but it's not unheard of.

;)

Don't worry. The team DOES have a lot to work on, but we - as fans - only have one job. We have to keep cheering...and keep supporting them at the games. Regardless of the hand wringing that goes on around here, there are still lots of us who bleed purple clean to the bone.

:D
Click to expand...

Yeah- I guess I was just surprised that the "Sky Falling Syndrome" had started SO EARLY. And you are right- it is up to RA to figure out how to motivate the guys, get them to play better D, get them to buy in, and find a solid rotation.

We have the easy job, all we have to do is CHEER, and CHEER OUR LOUDEST. I don't care how big the bandwagon is right now, and if it diminishes more as the season goes on. The regulars on the wagon will save room and welcome people back when we win our championship!!! Here is hoping it is sooner rather than later...

DISCLAIMER- I am NOT calling anyone on this board a bandwagoner no matter how critical you are of the team. Fans vent, I get that.
 
Isn't Disney coming out with "Chicken Little" next weekend at movie theathers? Talk about perfect timing :D
 
Hey, you gave me a great idea. We can all pick our favorite characters from the movie and turn it into one of the longest-running, lamest ongoing jokes around.

Or we could start a "Chicken Little of the Day" award.

;)
 
i gotta see one game before i make any assumptions. tmrw, although another "pre season" game and bibby may be out- i think-, is my first chance to watch a game and its against the lakers. it wont be much to determine anything, but i think i'll get a better perspective of this team. its been tough trying to figure out this team based on written assumptions from the members on this board.
 
I just shouldn't post right after a loss. I always feel a bit down about it. A good night's sleep (or a slap upside the head) generally restores my perspective. Thanks for the slap upside the head. ;) :p
 
I'm guilty...the sky is falling for me after every loss even though I have been a diehard Kings fan since the beginning. I've seen MUCH worse, but have come to expect a lot in the past few years. I think that since we were so close a few years ago, we're starting to get restless. All I need is a good whoopin' of the Lakers to get me excited again.

GO KINGS!
 
Rain man said:
I don't post much on the board and I have only been a member since the end of last season, but I have been a fan from the beginining (well since my first memories of being a Sports fan around 1988). I know a lot of you have like me have seen all of the horror that can come with being a fan of this team. We have been fans through the Ricky Berry fiasco, Bobby Hurley, the days when we started Billy Owens AND Olden Polynice on the same team, Pervis Ellison, the 43 game road losing streak, and on and on and on. Hell, even the good times of being a Kings fan have had their painful moments- John Stockton's game winner and Vlade's missed hook vs. the Jazz, the sweep against the Lakers, Robert Horry, the Webber injury, the rimmed out 3 from CWebb vs. the Timberwolves.

The point of all of this is that Kings fans have never really gone into "full despair mode," over these things. There has been a lot of frustration, a lot of anger, a lot of disbelief, but never full on despair. But that is what I am sensing right now on this board, and frankly I don't get it. I understand that not everyone feels this way, and not everyone has counted this season as a lost cause, and everyone is still rooting for the Kings with 110% of their heart, but I don't understand the diminished expectations basically overnight.

As far as I can tell, as late as the Saturday night victory over Portland this board was very positive about the prospects of the season. No one is calling us a contender, but certainly a legit contender to the ultimate contender San Antonio. Then, over the course of two preseason games the wheels of this message board completely fell off.

Folks- it is TWO PRESEASON GAMES. Hell, even if it was TWO REGULAR SEASON games I wouldnot be as concerned as some of you. Teams go through slumps, don't always play well, sometimes revert to poor Defense and me-first attitudes. It happens with all teams. It happens MORE OFTEN when teams are very new to each other. Most of these guys have played together for a month, give them some time to get things together and learn each other's strengths and weaknesses. A slow start does not doom your season (just ask the Houston Astros, Oakland A's, the Spurs team that won the title the year they started like 10-12, etc...)

I am not blind- Bibby has been bad, SAR not assertive, a lot of concern over me-first attitudes etc... But folks, the preseason is where you work out the kinks. Before these bad games, we looked very good against Portland, Golden State and the Clippers. Adelman is still mixing and matching lineups to figure out his best rotation. One of the ugly losses came against Phoenix when it was our second team against their first team much of the night. There are still problems, but give the guys a chance to learn about each other, and RA a chance to learn about his players and best rotations before you write off the season.

AGAIN- I am NOT NOT NOT challenging anyone in here as a fan of the team. I know you all love the Kings and want to see success for the team. I am just saying I think we are all being a bit hasty in saying this will be a long season based on one game....
Click to expand...

Very nice... agreed.
 
ONEZERO said:
^^^ judging off pre season games?????
Click to expand...

All Folsom Al is saying is that, based on the pre-season games, he's concerned about Bibby. I think it's a perfectly legitimate concern. Right now, Mike is out of step and just doesn't look like the Mike we're used to. That doesn't mean any of us think he'll stay that way. I agree with Al... it's a little disconcerting to see #10 missing shots so badly and just generally not being any kind of force on the court.
 
Thank you Rain Man for bringing some sanity to the board. Although I must admit the "sky is falling in syndrome" has not been around after most of the posters had a good night sleep. I thin it might have been a bit of an over-reaction after a loss to the Suns but still not warranted :p

Seriously, this team was always going to struggle to start with. We simply have too many new faces to have an imidiate impact. From last year's training camp we only have 4 players remaining. Many new faces and thats always going to slow you down.

During some pre-season games we showed a flash of briliance on a few occasions but mostly we have been out of sync and players are still learning about each other.

I am expecting a slow start and if we can be .500 after the first 20 games of the regular season, I think we are on track.

Its not going to be beer and skittles to start off with ;)
 
ONEZERO said:
^^^ judging off pre season games?????
Click to expand...
Yeah i dont think we ahould judge him just yet. Last year and the year before that he did not do too good in the preseason and kicked butt in the reg.
 
I don't think the sky is falling. We went into this season with really no idea how this team would mesh on the court, what their identity as a team will be and how well (or poorly) they will do. The only thing I'm certain of is that there WILL be growing pangs. The only people who are going to be totally depressed are the people who thought this was a Championship contending team from the get.
 
VF21 said:
All Folsom Al is saying is that, based on the pre-season games, he's concerned about Bibby. I think it's a perfectly legitimate concern. Right now, Mike is out of step and just doesn't look like the Mike we're used to. That doesn't mean any of us think he'll stay that way. I agree with Al... it's a little disconcerting to see #10 missing shots so badly and just generally not being any kind of force on the court.
Click to expand...

no, hes been critical of bibby before and he didnt say his concern for bibby was based on pre season games, he said his one n only concern is bibby(nothing to do with what has happened lately)
 
Last year michael vick put up crappy numbers in their preseason games and still had a pro bowl season. Even though it is a different sport it is the same situation. im pretty sure that the players don't take preseason very seriously. Unless they are trying to get on a team.
 
If they don't take the preseason seriously, they need to be smacked in the head.

No one is so good they can afford to phone in a performance, whether it's Mike Bibby or Allen Iverson or Joe Iwannabeasuperstar...

Right now, to this point in the pre-season, Bibby hasn't done anything to warrant unqualified faith and support. That doesn't mean he won't come around. What it means is that if you didn't know Bibby from before, you certainly wouldn't be very impressed with what you've seen so far.

It's not about last year. It's not about two years ago. It's about here and now. And here and now, there is at least a rational reason for a little concern about the PG position. Will it continue once the season starts? We have no way of knowing, of course, but simply voicing a legitimate concern about something shouldn't be taken for utter abandonment.

I also have concerns about Jason Hart. What if the hip pointer is a little more than we first thought?

And Bonzi - what if he blows up?

Etc. Concern is legitimate.
 
VF21 said:
If they don't take the preseason seriously, they need to be smacked in the head.

No one is so good they can afford to phone in a performance, whether it's Mike Bibby or Allen Iverson or Joe Iwannabeasuperstar...

Right now, to this point in the pre-season, Bibby hasn't done anything to warrant unqualified faith and support. That doesn't mean he won't come around. What it means is that if you didn't know Bibby from before, you certainly wouldn't be very impressed with what you've seen so far.

It's not about last year. It's not about two years ago. It's about here and now. And here and now, there is at least a rational reason for a little concern about the PG position. Will it continue once the season starts? We have no way of knowing, of course, but simply voicing a legitimate concern about something shouldn't be taken for utter abandonment.

I also have concerns about Jason Hart. What if the hip pointer is a little more than we first thought?

And Bonzi - what if he blows up?

Etc. Concern is legitimate.
Click to expand...
Maybe I am completely different in this regard but honsetly, I never cared much about a pre-season form of proven players no matter what is the sport in question.

What I have found out over the years is that established players treat a pre-season games as a bit of a hit out. Shake the rust off, try a few things and don't get injured. I have no problem with that. I see pre-season more as an opportunity for unproven players/reserves to put up a case for themselves with their performances. I expected Kenny yo come out firing and he has done it on occassions because he would prefer to start and he has competition for that spot. New guys want to try and fit in without distrupring whats there. Rookies want a claim for some game time.

Players like Mike, Brad and Peja have nothing to prove on this team in a pre-season game.

Mike Bibby always has a shooting slump or 2 in a season and he always comes out of it. Even if he starts the season stinking it up he will come good. Thats as good as given. Peja, Brad and Mike are the least of my worries because we know what they bring to the table.

Will Bonzi blow up is a legit question but we haven't seen anything yet to suggest that he will so there is no point stressing out about it until it happens.

Relax, things will work out :)
 
Players like Mike, Brad and Peja have nothing to prove on this team in a pre-season game.
Click to expand...

True, they have nothing to prove, performance wise, we know what they are capable of. However, I do like to see effort, even in the pre-season. It seems our players often feel like they don't need to exert maximum effort, and this is a long standing issue, not something that only flares up in the pre-season.
 
"Players like Mike, Brad and Peja have nothing to prove on this team in a pre-season game."

...sigh...

Ah, but they do have a role. At least Brad and Peja are putting forth some kind of productive effort. Bibby is totally off. And if you look at his face, it's not because he doesn't care...

I do not like to see one of only 4 returning players to our team start off so abysmally. Yes, right now it's the pre-season. But next week it's REAL and I'm going to continue to be at least marginally concerned until I see something that reminds me of the Mike Bibby I'm used to seeing.
 
BibityBobtyBoom said:
Last year michael vick put up crappy numbers in their preseason games and still had a pro bowl season. Even though it is a different sport it is the same situation. im pretty sure that the players don't take preseason very seriously. Unless they are trying to get on a team.
Click to expand...
Perfect example of preseason meaning nothing would be the Indianapolis Colts. 0-6 preseason to a 6-0 start.
 
i didn't say it meant nothing, but i have heard interviews of players saying how much they hate preseason because it doesn't count towards the regular season. it may be different in this situation and it not be
 
Different TEAM same COACH = Same result's................

I'm a kings fan from way back also and I can honestly say that our time has come and gone.

Now we have to wait for our next turn to come.........

We have ruled out the players and now it's time to look elswhere.........
 
R1LOVER said:
Different TEAM same COACH = Same result's................

I'm a kings fan from way back also and I can honestly say that our time has come and gone.

Now we have to wait for our next turn to come.........

We have ruled out the players and now it's time to look elswhere.........
Click to expand...

You're really ahead of everyone, huh? ;)
 
R1LOVER said:
We have ruled out the players and now it's time to look elswhere.........
Click to expand...

Yes you're right. Its clear that its not the players that have kept us at the top winning games in the face of devastating injuries anbd turniver year after year after year. About time for the coach to finally get some credit.
 
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