If we can't beat the NO

[SacTownKid]

While it may happen, I wouldn't expect the Kings to jump all over the Rockets tommorrow. It could happen, but even more important then who we face right now, is the issue of facing ourselves. This goes beyond heart and effort right now. It comes down to consistency and familiarity. Those issues will not be addressed immediately, and if we do pounce all over the Rockets or any other team right now lets hope its real and not some fake domination. This team needs to be consistent, I am not worried about who we face right now, our biggest opponent right now is the Sacramento Kings.

I think it'll get going, I truly believe that.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

While it may happen, I wouldn't expect the Kings to jump all over the Rockets tommorrow. It could happen, but even more important then who we face right now, is the issue of facing ourselves. This goes beyond heart and effort right now. It comes down to consistency and familiarity. Those issues will not be addressed immediately, and if we do pounce all over the Rockets or any other team right now lets hope its real and not some fake domination. This team needs to be consistent, I am not worried about who we face right now, our biggest opponent right now is the Sacramento Kings.

I think it'll get going, I truly believe that.

Agreed.

 

[Jerryaki]

I think it'll get going, I truly believe that.

it may get going, but lack of athletecism (in our starters) will prevent us from becoming anything more than an average team this season.

 

[VF21]

First, I'm not jumping off a bandwagon. If anything, I'd be looking for a cliff...

What I saw tonight was a team totally out of synch. NOTHING was working right and the one thing they used to be able to rely on, their knowledge of each other, is no longer there.

This is a team with strangers trying to figure out what to do when things aren't going well. Occasional flashes of decent play were totally and completely overshadowed by a lack of continuity, a lack of patience and a lack of trust in their teammates.

Some of us have been expressing our concerns for a long time and have been told we're alarmists, we're too negative, we're not real fans, etc.

Well, guess what? Tonight was the worst case scenario of exactly what we've been trying to say.

This isn't a TEAM yet. It's a bunch of guys with talent but no cohesiveness. There's something missing. I'm not quite sure what it is, but it was apparent to me watching tonight that there's a big gap where something needs to go...

When even Coachie looks like he'd rather be anywhere else than on that bench, you know there are problems. Not personality problems or chemistry problems. Problems that go clear to the core of what makes the Sacramento Kings the Sacramento Kings. If they cannot address that and make it better, it's going to be a very long season.

 

[Kings113]

Who else can we beat? probably no one at this point.

Oh man, we're going down the toilet for sure...

 

[chelle]

What I saw tonight was a team totally out of synch. NOTHING was working right and the one thing they used to be able to rely on, their knowledge of each other, is no longer there.

This is a team with strangers trying to figure out what to do when things aren't going well. Occasional flashes of decent play were totally and completely overshadowed by a lack of continuity, a lack of patience and a lack of trust in their teammates.


This isn't a TEAM yet. It's a bunch of guys with talent but no cohesiveness. There's something missing. I'm not quite sure what it is, but it was apparent to me watching tonight that there's a big gap where something needs to go...

When even Coachie looks like he'd rather be anywhere else than on that bench, you know there are problems. Not personality problems or chemistry problems. Problems that go clear to the core of what makes the Sacramento Kings the Sacramento Kings.

I think that is what makes this so sad. I have decided to TRY to be optimistic. It is still early enough for me to be so, but it is hard.

Tonight, I missed MY team. I choose to believe that it will emerge. It does NOT do this heart well to see what I saw tonight, BUT I will trust that the plane ride to Houston will help irom out some things and tomorrow will be better. It has to be.

 

[kingsville]

They better pick it up , i am going to be in toyota center rooting for my fav team in the world !

Hopefully; our team picks up there game tomorrow.

 

[QueensFan]

OY! Now I understannd that the Kings are a new team and are going to need some time to pull things together but WOW! I did NOT expect them to score 67 points against the Hornets on opening night! Forget the fact that they are a new team, they better come out prepared to put on a better show than THAT tomorrow night.

 

[SacTownKid]

To be quite honest, I would rather this have happened then us destroying a bad team, and "appearing" to be a juggernaut in the West. Right now we just aren't. These guys need to go through these rough patches. Maybe that chip on their shoulder will get a little bit bigger. You pointed out some very good things in your last statement, VF. What this teams lacks is confidence, and they don't really have much experience together so it is very easy for me to understand why that is.

I don't think these problems are insurmountable. I am willing to give them at least 20 games to get it together, and I am the most impatient "TV kicker" you would ever meet, but we have to be realistic. You can't compare teams one way or the other, and yes, some new teams are kicking butt right now. They found their "groove" quicker then we have. But look at a team like Houston last year. They got off to a rough start and ended up very good once they found their "groove". Hopefully we end in the same fashion.

There is no need to lose hope right now people. The sky isn't falling yet!

 

[kingsfan916]

I broke my damn compuet chair by the frustration.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where are the real SACRAMENTO KINGS at???????????

 

[SacTownKid]

I broke my damn compuet chair by the frustration.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where are the real SACRAMENTO KINGS at???????????

Not where, when!!!!

 

[Bricklayer]

To be quite honest, I would rather this have happened then us destroying a bad team, and "appearing" to be a juggernaut in the West. Right now we just aren't. These guys need to go through these rough patches. Maybe that chip on their shoulder will get a little bit bigger. You pointed out some very good things in your last statement, VF. What this teams lacks is confidence, and they don't really have much experience together so it is very easy for me to understand why that is.

I don't think these problems are insurmountable. I am willing to give them at least 20 games to get it together, and I am the most impatient "TV kicker" you would ever meet, but we have to be realistic. You can't compare teams one way or the other, and yes, some new teams are kicking butt right now. They found their "groove" quicker then we have. But look at a team like Houston last year. They got off to a rough start and ended up very good once they found their "groove". Hopefully we end in the same fashion.

There is no need to lose hope right now people. The sky isn't falling yet!

Here is the very real concern -- our next 5 games are against @Houston, @Phoenix, Detroit, @Denver, Denver. We could easily come out of that stretch 2-4, 1-5, 0-6...and if we do, the sense of panic is going to be palatable. And maybe we get to see how seriously deluded the front office is/was to see how they deal wth it. But you run the risk of the team losing confidence in the system, of the coach getting fired, of selfish agendas popping up and trades being made. This isn't the good ole days where you KNEW the team would recover. We can't just go 6-14 or something over the first 20 trying to find ourselves, because the fallout from a rocky start could well scuttle the whole year. We need to have SOME success early just to settle rattled nerves and get strangers to the system to buy in. If the panic button ever gets hit...that was and is my one fear. Panic, overreaction, and the ship goes down.

Returning home 0-3 to face Detroit of all teams would be very very tough.

 

[SacTownKid]

Here is the very real concern -- our next 5 games are against @Houston, @Phoenix, Detroit, @Denver, Denver. We could easily come out of that stretch 2-4, 1-5, 0-6...and if we do, the sense of panic is going to be palatable. And maybe we get to see how seriously deluded the front office is/was to see how they deal wth it. But you run the risk of the team losing confidence in the system, of the coach getting fired, of selfish agendas popping up and trades being made. This isn't the good ole days where you KNEW the team would recover. We can't just go 6-14 or something over the first 20 trying to find ourselves, because the fallout from a rocky start could well scuttle the whole year. We need to have SOME success early just to settle rattled nerves and get strangers to the system to buy in. If the panic button ever gets hit...that was and is my one fear. Panic, overreaction, and the ship goes down.

Returning home 0-3 to face Detroit of all teams would be very very tough.

The only reason that doesn't worry me is because this is a team full of verteren players. These guys have been around the block before. But I agree with you that the team needs SOME success. I DON'T want to see this team go 0-6 with no real positive strides being made. Right now we at least need to look better game to game, it may be slow, it may be fast. We shall see.

 

[AriesMar27]

if they go 0-6 but are competetive, i wont lose any sleep.... i just want to see them play hard, which is something that they didnt do tonight.... lets all pray that the mavs and lakers lose to the suns.... and that the lakers lose to the nuggets as well...

 

[QueensFan]

I actually do think this team will come together and be decent- almost certainly a playoff team. But after tonight I DO have my doubts as to whether this team can actually contend. This may be the first time in a long while that we have to deal with a "mediocre" Kings team - more so than last season. That is sort of a cold reality.

 

[Gary]

We looked horrible against a team that is going to win maybe 20-25 games. This should not have happened and I hope this lights a fire under the team. They were embarrased, and Bibby was on the bench laughing. How disgusting. I hope he gets a fine from teh team for that.

 

[Stojakovic]

We looked horrible against a team that is going to win maybe 20-25 games. This should not have happened and I hope this lights a fire under the team. They were embarrased, and Bibby was on the bench laughing. How disgusting. I hope he gets a fine from teh team for that.

LOL

I would p*ss my pants if that happened. Imagine the news on nba.com, "Bibby fined for laughing"

 

[thesanityannex]

They were embarrased, and Bibby was on the bench laughing. How disgusting. I hope he gets a fine from teh team for that.

All this talk about Bibby laughing. For all we know, someone on the bench could have just cut a fart. No matter the score, I would laugh as well. We can't judge them for laughing when we don't know what it was about.

 

[sloter]

It's only the first game, we aren't really known to light it up at the beginning of the season.

 

[VF21]

Stojakovic - If Bibby is fined, we'll never hear about it. At least I hope we don't. I do NOT want to see another year of drama and conflict. We deserve better than that.

I didn't expect a blowout win tonight, especially considering the emotional power of the evening for the Hornets. What I did expect to see was a team...I didn't. While there was effort on the part of a few - whether successful or not - there were way too many players that just looked as though they didn't care if they were there or not. Well, fine... Maybe if they didn't get paid for tonight, they'd feel a little differently.

I am heartily tired of watching some players put forth something so far beneath genuine effort that there is no word to describe it.

We deserve better. This is where a strong team warrior - I won't mention his name so people don't get upset - would have been nice. Someone to exort the team to TRY; someone who would chew their arses in the locker room at half time AND after the game. Someone who would remind them what they're supposed to be doing.

We don't have those warriors. But we'll be facing them - one in a 76ers uniform and the other wearing Mavs colors. I can feel the indigestion coming on already.

Someone - and I have no idea who - HAS to step up and take charge before it's too late. If, of course, that ship hasn't already sailed and it's just a matter of when not if it crashes on the rocks and sinks.

 

[Gary]

It's only the first game, we aren't really known to light it up at the beginning of the season.

lies!

So all those 15-5 starts were actually incorrect?

The Kings played like ****, and if they do not take things seriously they will wind up back in the lottery.

At least the Bengals are going to the playoffs this year

 

[D-Mass]

I'm inclined to consider only two players as possible new leaders for this team...the only two players to dive on the floor after loose balls tonight. Miller and SAR. THAT, among other qualities, is true leadership...I just don't see Bibby leading this team.

 

[bye_bye_bjax24]

Tonight was a joke. I agree in 20 games we will be much better, but much better than this will get you about 30-40 wins. Last year, and years past, when the Kings got off to a sluggish start, the bench would come to the rescue with an infusion of energy (with guys like B Jax, Mo Evans, Jon Barry, even Eddie House, etc....). Tonight the score was 22-21 and we needed a spark.

Now we turn to KT (plays well @ Arco only)...and J Hart (no shooting range)...and Cisco and K Mart where we could have Matt Barnes and Mo Evans and B Jax. Our bench is pathetic....I am not so sure they are all that capable to begin with. Darius Songalia was no world beater, but at least he could be counted on to knock down the open jumper, hustle, and play smart, and give team a lift.

Things began to unravel for us when Cutino walked. We lost a trade chip. And when Nate Robinson got snatched by the Knicks. (Geoff Petrie was dying to take him.) Nate was the energy and creative playmaking we needed to set up our unathletic, stand-still shooters (Bibby Miller and Peja) If we pick Nate, then we would be more likely to re-sign Mo Evans (since no Garcia). With Mo Evans we have a guy who attacks the offense boards and doesnt need plays called ever to make an impact....instead we have Cisco and K Mart who run around the court like a pair of turkeys w/ their heads chopped off.

You could make the argument give them a chance to gel, and I agree to an extent, but when the Kings put together a new team of J-Will, Vlade, C-Webb etc....they gelled from Day One. You could see the potential and the energy and enthusiasm from the first game.

And give me a break about heart. Tonite was not about lack of heart. As basketball players, these guys have pride and want to compete. Tonight was alarming as it exposed our questionable talent base, one-on-one playmaking skills, athleticism, and ridiculous lack of chemistry. Where are the fast breaks? The Kings were worst in the NBA pre-season in fast break points. Not only does that make for a lousy team, it makes for boring basketball.

Can we even be a fast breaking team? Bonzi Wells has no finishing ability. A two guard has to do more than post up. (see JR Smith) K Mart is too afraid to fill a lane. (Why does he take baby steps when he runs? Am I the only one who notices this.) Peja fades to the 3 point line instead of to the hole. Bibbys' arms and shoulders are too big to find a lane wide enough to run down.

At least C-Webb had a great game tonite. I am happy for him. As a target of criticism from Sac-town and Philly, I hope his rehabed knee allows him to return to All-Star caliber. He looked more mobile and made plays he just could not make last year. He ran the court and actually moved to defend the pick n roll. He is leaner by 15-20 pounds. He is not an explosive pup....but I like what I saw. With Steven Hunter and Samuel Dalembert (injured), thats a quick and athletic frontcourt that will compensate for poor shooting, allows you to clear the boards, get out and run...instead we have Brad Miller chucking his head band.

Tomorrow Stromile Swift, Yao Ming, Mc Grady, Rafer Alston, and the Rockets home opener? If you have young children, cover their eyes!

 

[OptimusRhyme]

It's been one game and your already saying our bench is pathetic....Wow, this is going ot be a long season. We used all of our MLE on Abdur Rahim, I'm almost positive we would of re-signed Mo Evans if we could of. Thomas only plays good at arco? What the hell is that BS, if you look at his stats you will see you are completely wrong. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/splits?statsId=3345
Harts not out there to shoot, hes out there for hustle, defence, and simply running the offence. Cisco & Garcia run around like a pair of turkeys eh? Man you obviously didn't watch any pre-season games when they both played well. Garcia is learning, Martin has never had a roll on a team so give him some time.
This team isn't J-Will, Webber & Vlade, those three gelling dosen't have anything to do with us, this is our team now. Your probably the quickest one to jump the gun on the Kings. As soon as Martin shoots 1-6 in a game, hes a crappy player for the rest of his career, Garcia's a rookie so he's never going to go through a learning process he just gonna learn right away. Gimme a break man.

 

[FinalFantasy]

Tonight was a joke. I agree in 20 games we will be much better, but much better than this will get you about 30-40 wins. Last year, and years past, when the Kings got off to a sluggish start, the bench would come to the rescue with an infusion of energy (with guys like B Jax, Mo Evans, Jon Barry, even Eddie House, etc....). Tonight the score was 22-21 and we needed a spark.

Now we turn to KT (plays well @ Arco only)...and J Hart (no shooting range)...and Cisco and K Mart where we could have Matt Barnes and Mo Evans and B Jax. Our bench is pathetic....I am not so sure they are all that capable to begin with. Darius Songalia was no world beater, but at least he could be counted on to knock down the open jumper, hustle, and play smart, and give team a lift.

Things began to unravel for us when Cutino walked. We lost a trade chip. And when Nate Robinson got snatched by the Knicks. (Geoff Petrie was dying to take him.) Nate was the energy and creative playmaking we needed to set up our unathletic, stand-still shooters (Bibby Miller and Peja) If we pick Nate, then we would be more likely to re-sign Mo Evans (since no Garcia). With Mo Evans we have a guy who attacks the offense boards and doesnt need plays called ever to make an impact....instead we have Cisco and K Mart who run around the court like a pair of turkeys w/ their heads chopped off.

You could make the argument give them a chance to gel, and I agree to an extent, but when the Kings put together a new team of J-Will, Vlade, C-Webb etc....they gelled from Day One. You could see the potential and the energy and enthusiasm from the first game.

And give me a break about heart. Tonite was not about lack of heart. As basketball players, these guys have pride and want to compete. Tonight was alarming as it exposed our questionable talent base, one-on-one playmaking skills, athleticism, and ridiculous lack of chemistry. Where are the fast breaks? The Kings were worst in the NBA pre-season in fast break points. Not only does that make for a lousy team, it makes for boring basketball.

Can we even be a fast breaking team? Bonzi Wells has no finishing ability. A two guard has to do more than post up. (see JR Smith) K Mart is too afraid to fill a lane. (Why does he take baby steps when he runs? Am I the only one who notices this.) Peja fades to the 3 point line instead of to the hole. Bibbys' arms and shoulders are too big to find a lane wide enough to run down.

At least C-Webb had a great game tonite. I am happy for him. As a target of criticism from Sac-town and Philly, I hope his rehabed knee allows him to return to All-Star caliber. He looked more mobile and made plays he just could not make last year. He ran the court and actually moved to defend the pick n roll. He is leaner by 15-20 pounds. He is not an explosive pup....but I like what I saw. With Steven Hunter and Samuel Dalembert (injured), thats a quick and athletic frontcourt that will compensate for poor shooting, allows you to clear the boards, get out and run...instead we have Brad Miller chucking his head band.

Tomorrow Stromile Swift, Yao Ming, Mc Grady, Rafer Alston, and the Rockets home opener? If you have young children, cover their eyes!

I agree with ya in every words.

 

[twocents]

i don't understand this whole thing. webber, bojax (or nojax as my fingers initially made me type) and christie were very good players and made the kings a very good and strong team "in the past". they are older, they have injuries, their bodies are not what they used to be. you simply cannot count on them to form the nucleus of a team contending for the title. those days are simply gone. webber, bojax and christie are at the stages of their careers where they play the veteran with basketball savvy. things would not have been better, had they still played for the kings. different, maybe but not better.

here is where my adelman criticism kicks in. he did not bring along young players. petrie certainly did not help the cause by never getting younger players. you lose your younger players because you think you might get the title by playing old journeymen; what do you get in the end? disgruntled/frustrated young players who all want out. you rip what you sow.

 

[VF21]

i don't understand this whole thing. webber, bojax (or nojax as my fingers initially made me type) and christie were very good players and made the kings a very good and strong team "in the past". they are older, they have injuries, their bodies are not what they used to be. you simply cannot count on them to form the nucleus of a team contending for the title. those days are simply gone. webber, bojax and christie are at the stages of their careers where they play the veteran with basketball savvy. things would not have been better, had they still played for the kings. different, maybe but not better.

here is where my adelman criticism kicks in. he did not bring along young players. petrie certainly did not help the cause by never getting younger players. you lose your younger players because you think you might get the title by playing old journeymen; what do you get in the end? disgruntled/frustrated young players who all want out. you rip what you sow.

So you're blaming Adelman for not bringing along young players in the past? Sorry, twocents, but that's just not logical. WHICH young players exactly are you talking about and how do you think they would have changed what we're seeing right now?

What disgruntled and frustrated young players who want out are you talking about in particular?

(Nice to see you on the board, BTW. Hope everything is going well for you...)

 

[twocents]

it is not a matter of who you had in the past. it is a matter of how this place was perceived as a team with no playing time reserved for young players which unfortunately it was. not all young players are saviors; heck only a few of them really are. but constantly getting older with no future plans was a recipe for disaster, and here we are.

(thanks, i am always around actually. mostly reading. some very troubling waters here in turkey make my life much harder than i anticipated but i am not quitting. )

 

[QueensFan]

it is not a matter of who you had in the past. it is a matter of how this place was perceived as a team with no playing time reserved for young players which unfortunately it was. not all young players are saviors; heck only a few of them really are. but constantly getting older with no future plans was a recipe for disaster, and here we are.

(thanks, i am always around actually. mostly reading. some very troubling waters here in turkey make my life much harder than i anticipated but i am not quitting. )

I actually agree with you. Most "dynasty" type teams or teams that are very good for a long time always have some young guns in the pipelines. Adelman has shown over the course of his tenure that he isn't good at developing young talent, so none was brought in - they just would have sat on the bench. What we see now is the product of a team getting older with no new blood to revitalize it. Compare to the Spurs who constantly seem to have young guys coming up and making a difference.

 

[slugking50]

< watches people jumping off the cliff and waves bye >



Get a grip some of you sheesh. This team will get it together in the next 10 games.