[Game] Kings at Grizzlies
- Thread starter rainmaker
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MassachusettsKingsFan
All-Star
I am embarrassed at how much Haddadi is scoring on Cousins.
Henkel
Starter
With Evans out its more apparent then usual just what an awful team Petrie has put together.
Cousins effort sucks tonight. When you get beat by a 7'2 sloth down the court repeatedly somethings wrong. Nice to see him responding to Evans injury with his worse play since the first month of the season.
Cousins effort sucks tonight. When you get beat by a 7'2 sloth down the court repeatedly somethings wrong. Nice to see him responding to Evans injury with his worse play since the first month of the season.
IfAt1st
Starter
I may be done watching this Kings team.
I certainly don't feel like going out of my way to watch this garbage product they have on the floor.
EVERY team in the league has guys who score better, are faster, bigger, more athletic, can sink 3 pt shots, and don't have attitude/effort problems on the floor.
Do the Maloofs really think this Kings team on the court can compete with the league the way it is now?
With the lack of spending to put a competitive team on the floor, they have guaranteed the Kings' losing season.
I certainly don't feel like going out of my way to watch this garbage product they have on the floor.
EVERY team in the league has guys who score better, are faster, bigger, more athletic, can sink 3 pt shots, and don't have attitude/effort problems on the floor.
Do the Maloofs really think this Kings team on the court can compete with the league the way it is now?
With the lack of spending to put a competitive team on the floor, they have guaranteed the Kings' losing season.
I guess the Magic game was an accident.
rainmaker
Hall of Famer
I guarantee you'll be watching on monday.
Aside from that, just because we layed an egg on the last game of a long road trip, without our best player, doesn't all the sudden mean the rebuild and what will happen this summer with our capspace is a failure.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
Tyreke and Cousins are busts. Should have kept Hawes, drafted Rubio and traded for Aaron Afflalo. Oh, and Hakeem, Patrick Ewing, Chris Webber, Kareem, and Wilt Chamberlain's ghost should be our big men coaches.
IfAt1st
Starter
Monday is the fans' show of support - of course I'll watch it, and would be there if I'd won with any of the (tons of) points I spent on BeeBuzz trying to win tickets.
I am coming to the realization that this team is simply not worth spending 300+ million dollars on, regardless of what happens.
I simply don't believe that these Kings can be a winner in this league - not with everything stacked against them the way it is.
That's my feelings tonight - it might change on Monday's special game, but I haven't felt that way about the Kings ever before, so I wouldn't expect it to go away when/if they beat another team like Orlando.
I am coming to the realization that this team is simply not worth spending 300+ million dollars on, regardless of what happens.
I simply don't believe that these Kings can be a winner in this league - not with everything stacked against them the way it is.
That's my feelings tonight - it might change on Monday's special game, but I haven't felt that way about the Kings ever before, so I wouldn't expect it to go away when/if they beat another team like Orlando.
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FaStRmAn
Starter
This team is not built to win games in the NBA. It looks like a half baked product. There are so many glaring holes that they look like a sieve. Petrie has really put together a collection of mismatched pieces and has tried to cobble together a bunch of CBA talent into a bench. It hasn't worked very well, and the proof is in the play of the team. I can not see what direction Petrie is going with this team other than down. Sure, without Tyreke the team is not as good. But they are playing like they are no good at all, and that is depressing. It is certainly getting harder and harder to get excited to watch this team just go thru the motions with an unmotivated and lackadaisical group of players who look like they are auditioning for some other team someplace other than Sacramento. There is ZERO chemistry in this group of players. The veteran presence is entirely lacking. The bottom basement budget is apparent in all aspects of the Kings team. If they think they can take this act to Anaheim, they are sadly mistaken. If the Mighty DUCKS cant draw any fans, what on EARTH do the Kings think they are gonna draw? FLIES? Corporate Sponsors for a team that constantly looses? No business wants to be associated with a loser. The Kings are not going anywhere if this is the product they are planning on putting on the floor.
In fact, if they did go to LA with their track record of mediocrity, they would play in front of family members and concessions employees, because no one will be there to watch this crap! The Kings are in effect doomed to play in Sacramento until they can prove a track record of success that is at least better than that of the Clippers! I predict that if they DO go to LA, the Maloofs would only be owners for a very short time before they would be forced to sell the team to get out from underneath the debt that they would be saddled with. And any TV network who would pay for this product for more than one year is idiotic. The Kings would be a money loser in LA, and an abject failure. More than likely they would be moved to Seattle or even back to KC before 2 years were past. And in truth, the NBA does not take too kindly to teams bouncing from city to city. The new owners would have a very difficult time convincing a majority of owners to move the team again so quickly. That would certainly drive down the price the Maloofs could expect to get selling the team. Moving to LA looks like an EPIC FAILURE on every level for this team. Suck it up Maloofs and put a decent product on the floor! You could get great attendance here in Sacramento if you put a half way decent product on the floor! It has been a very, VERY long time since the Kings were in any sort of consideration as a playoff team. A VERY long time.
In fact, if they did go to LA with their track record of mediocrity, they would play in front of family members and concessions employees, because no one will be there to watch this crap! The Kings are in effect doomed to play in Sacramento until they can prove a track record of success that is at least better than that of the Clippers! I predict that if they DO go to LA, the Maloofs would only be owners for a very short time before they would be forced to sell the team to get out from underneath the debt that they would be saddled with. And any TV network who would pay for this product for more than one year is idiotic. The Kings would be a money loser in LA, and an abject failure. More than likely they would be moved to Seattle or even back to KC before 2 years were past. And in truth, the NBA does not take too kindly to teams bouncing from city to city. The new owners would have a very difficult time convincing a majority of owners to move the team again so quickly. That would certainly drive down the price the Maloofs could expect to get selling the team. Moving to LA looks like an EPIC FAILURE on every level for this team. Suck it up Maloofs and put a decent product on the floor! You could get great attendance here in Sacramento if you put a half way decent product on the floor! It has been a very, VERY long time since the Kings were in any sort of consideration as a playoff team. A VERY long time.
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rainmaker
Hall of Famer
Great. Here we go with the end of the world crap again.
We lose without our best player, on the end of a long, tough roadtrip, and now Petrie has no plan, we have no talent, Cousins/Tyreke have no future, arena not worth building.....I think I'll check out of this thread.
We lose without our best player, on the end of a long, tough roadtrip, and now Petrie has no plan, we have no talent, Cousins/Tyreke have no future, arena not worth building.....I think I'll check out of this thread.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
It should be noted that a good chunk of Haddadi's 10 points came when Cousins switched on help and there was nobody there to cover Cousins' man. Either Cousins switched when he didn't need to, or somebody else didn't.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
It's not like Dalembert was doing much better on anyone tonight.
Don't forget - we have all this capspace and didn't throw it at MLE type players.
Uncia03
Starter
This was one of the few games this season where I knew it was over mid-way through the 3rd quarter.
They just had no energy at all in this one, and that's what happens sometimes on the 4th game in 5 nights trip all while on the road.
I still don't see any reason to pronounce doom and disaster on the entire club. We still have the same young talent we had when we beat the Lakers on the road, we still have the same cap space and positioning for the new CBA. One horrific game doesn't change the future outlook of this team.
I am, however, just a bit concerned with Cousins. He had that streak of games when he was flat dominating. I don't know if tonight's benching was a good or bad move by Westphal. If it was to help motivate Cousins tonight it failed miserably, if it was to establish something for future, I hope it has success, because tonight was just painful.
They just had no energy at all in this one, and that's what happens sometimes on the 4th game in 5 nights trip all while on the road.
I still don't see any reason to pronounce doom and disaster on the entire club. We still have the same young talent we had when we beat the Lakers on the road, we still have the same cap space and positioning for the new CBA. One horrific game doesn't change the future outlook of this team.
I am, however, just a bit concerned with Cousins. He had that streak of games when he was flat dominating. I don't know if tonight's benching was a good or bad move by Westphal. If it was to help motivate Cousins tonight it failed miserably, if it was to establish something for future, I hope it has success, because tonight was just painful.
Outside of good draft picks, they haven't shown any interest in building a winner. Everything is based on being as low cost and as cheap as possible. From the coach, to FA signings, to the trades. Everything is cost cutting. Even a middling signing of a veteran guard this off-season would have helped late game situations and the locker room atmosphere, but the team would not spend the money. Westphal was not the cheapest option, but the cheapest name to be had out there. Even draft picks are cheap options, so there's no financial risk in actually trying there.
Because of this, the team set-up doesn't make sense and does not work out well on the court. No offensive philosophy and no trust on the court. A lot of blackholes and none of the correct cogs to make the future stars actually work.
If you see something magical in that mess on the court that isn't just the potential of DMC and Evans then let me know, because the youth on the squad has not progressed and all hope lies in that youth taking the next step, and THEN surrounding those guys with the correct talent. The problem may be that doing things that way may be doing them out of order. Sometimes you need the cogs in first for the players to grow.
Uncia03
Starter
Interestingly enough, I see everything that you said above to be a positive thing.
With the new CBA looming, I'm beyond happy that this team will have the lowest payroll in the league to have the opportunity to reap the most benefits from a new salary structure.
People say it all the time: The Maloofs are too emotional, and sometimes act too much like fans.
For that reason alone, you know that they HATE to lose, and they HATE to see a bad product on the court.
So I've been genuinely surprised that they've resisted the temptation to spend money on those middling vets to the detriment of the larger goal, which is to be in prime position after the CBA.
Circumstances are a funny thing.
If the new CBA was 8 years from now, I'd be competely on board, saying that the Maloofs are being cheap because they are hurting financially.
But with the new CBA coming in a few months, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and say it's all about preparing to make as big an impact as you can once the CBA dust clears.
So...if we get a new CBA, and it turns out to be close to what it's speculated to become, and the Maloofs still don't spend money to take advantage, then I'll be the first to jump on board the "Maloofs are cheap and don't want to build a winner" band-wagon. (Provided that there are good moves to be made and they don't spend money just to spend money)
But at this point in time, we have our cornerstone guard and cornerstone center. Both are young and cheap and have a lot of upside.
That's all that I need right now to be happy as a fan since I'm waiting for the Maloofs to be able to take advantage of the discipline they've shown over the last couple years to shrewdly reduce spending.
There is plenty of time and players to fill in the gaps of the team if Evans and Cousins both pan out, and the Maloofs will have the cap flexibility to make it all happen.
Glenn
Hall of Famer
How many times does this idea need to be said. Some people, for whatever reason, absolutely can't see that this team is on the cusp of breaking into the elite status for the second time in their 26 year hsitory. I am not going to argue with anyone who does not want to listen. You can live in your odd little world but it doesn't include me and never will. Your world is covered with darkness and pessimism and mine is filled with light and hope. I like my world.
FaStRmAn
Starter
Telling the story about the direction the Kings are going wouldn't be boring, it would be fiction! This front office has floundered since the Bibby/C-Webb/Vlade days. There has been no consistency, no important free agents, no great draft picks before the last two who the jury is still out on. If you can see where this team is headed, you must have a mighty strong telescope! Because there have been national writers who have questioned the direction of this team. I have watched this team for a great many years and I see only 2 young possible stars and a collection of castaways from the league. A Bench of CBA players and no depth or veterans anywhere on the roster. Quite a foundation that Petrie has built! Most teams that compete and make the playoffs, and win tough games are NOT built with CBA players and castaways from other teams. They are built through the draft and thru free agency. The fact that this team has the LOWEST PAYROLL in the NBA is a sign that there is something wrong with the ownership of this team. Are the Golden Boy Maloofs running out of money? Their every move financially appears to be trying to stop the fact that they are bleeding money! Building a Las Vegas Casino in the midst of a depression was a very bad idea. They have lost millions there. Selling the Beer distributorship that their father made his millions on was troubling as well. The Kings are a terrible team that no one wants to go out and watch. They barely broke even by all accounts last season. I think the bottom line is that the Maloofs may have too many financial troubles to be able to focus any of their wealth on fixing what is wrong with the Kings. And they have held off spending any money on this team for a very long time! The fans have been promised for a long, long time that the financial moves they were making were to clear out cap space to build a winner. But what if they were clearing cap space just to clear it and save money?? We have watched a LOT of bad basketball because the Maloofs promised they would spend after the new CBA! And now they want to move the team out of town after inflicting us with some of the worst basketball in league history ??? Seriously? Was THAT the PLAN all along? People need to take a good long look at the overall history of this team and where they are headed. And for God's sake stop with the revisionist history! It is as it happened. And it has not been pretty. If you can see where this team is headed then perhaps you should call the Kings front office and LET them KNOW. I think that they are either clueless or are too busy getting the moving vans ready.
Uncia03
Starter
I think a financial distinction needs to be made here.
There is a difference between the spending power of an NBA owner, and the spending power that an NBA owner can use to help the team. Mikhail Prokhorov is worth around 15 billion dollars, but he has to abide by the rules of the CBA when it comes to spending money to make his team better.
The more adept you are at using the CBA rules to provide flexibility and decide deals the better shot you have at creating a competitive team. The Kings took advantage of the CBA and had a very high payroll when they were trying to win a championship, and now they have set themselves up to be the best positioned of all the teams out there, while having two young cornerstones to build around.
You have to trace everything back to Webber's knee. Typically a team pays super-star money for their super-stars and usually overpays a bit to keep the key cogs signed that you know work well with your star. (It's fine to overpay a player when you know that player gives you what you need when playing next to your cornerstone player. If that cornerstone player is no longer available, that's when you've got a big problem)
When Webber went down, that decimated both Petrie and the Maloof's long range goals on both being a championship contender and how to work the salary structure to hopefully go from a contending team to a rebuilding team.
They had so much salary tied up in guys that were not worth the cost when not surrounded by Webber, so their thought was that they were spending all this money anyway, they might as well spend a little bit more and see if they could be competitive. Of course, we all know that this was a mistake, and they should have just blown up the team, but they didn't because they are fans and they want to win.
All of this I'm writing just to basically say this. It takes time to clear off a lot of bad salary from your team, and while you're clearing off this salary, you're probably winning too many games and not getting great draft position. You say that they have been floundering with no great draft picks except the last two, but the simple fact is they were trying to get rid of over-paid players and they were too good to get good draft picks until the last two.
They had the 10th and 12th picks in the draft, and while those are decent spots, it's going to be very rare to find cornerstone players that far into the draft.
As far as your statement regarding how most teams build competitive teams through free-agency and the draft and not CBA cast-offs, you have to remember something.
I would guarantee you right now, that every owner in the league wishes they had the cap flexibility that the Maloofs have right now. The Owners are going to be pushing for something which limits player salaries, and the Maloofs are the Owners best positioned to take advantage of whatever terms are put together.
A major revamp of the CBA only comes once in a great while, so to be the best positioned to take advantage is a fabulous thing. Most teams don't build through 'CBA Cast-Offs' because there is hardly any opportunity to ever do so. You should be happy that the Maloofs have played this perfectly to be one of the teams who can.
Let me ask you a serious question.
The Detroit Pistons went and traded their star guard in Billups to the Denver Nuggets for a washed-up Allen Iverson. It wasn't a good trade from a talent perspective, but what it did was give the Pistons a massive expiring contract so they could begin to rebuild their team.
In the off-season the Pistons signed two players: Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon for about 17 million dollars.
Would you be happier going into next season with 17 million dollars more in cap flexibility, or have two mid-tier players who might cost you half the amount that you're now paying them if you'd waited for the new CBA comes into play?
I'm certain this is something that the Maloofs and Petrie have discussed over and over again, and as I doubt there have been any super-stars to pick up in free-agency or trade, the answer has always been to wait till after the CBA to make the best moves possible for the team.
If you disagree with their assessment, that's fine, but I happen to support that decision whole-heartedly.
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