Kings Hit Rock Bottom!!!

[kingsofnba]

well lets look at the bright side... it can't get much worse than this, can it???...hopefully the kings will start to realize that they need to PLAY DEFENSE AND REBOUND to win in this league... maybe, just maybe, the kings will take these losses to heart and start to play some focused and energized basketball after the all star break... the last 4 games of this month, after the all star break, will be the most important games of the year for the kings... if the kings can come out and refocus and sweep these games against ATL, DAL, PHI and WAS... they can use this as a springboard to bigger and better things come the playoffs... if they stumble and continue to lose out of the all star break, then the kings will be one round and done in the playoffs...

 

[Variant]

Well, we do seem to have a bad stretch every year. Most teams do in fact... I don't recall one quite _this_ bad, but generally I try to block out memories like that I suppose.

Anyways, hear's to hoping it's a funk that we'll get out of after some soul-searching during the All-Star break.

If not, we may be battling the likes of LA and Houston for a playoff spot.

 

[Folsom Al]

Just Do It ....

well lets look at the bright side... it can't get much worse than this, can it???...hopefully the kings will start to realize that they need to PLAY DEFENSE AND REBOUND to win in this league... maybe, just maybe, the kings will take these losses to heart and start to play some focused and energized basketball after the all star break... the last 4 games of this month, after the all star break, will be the most important games of the year for the kings... if the kings can come out and refocus and sweep these games against ATL, DAL, PHI and WAS... they can use this as a springboard to bigger and better things come the playoffs... if they stumble and continue to lose out of the all star break, then the kings will be one round and done in the playoffs...

The issues/problems are obvious ....

Are the solutions/answers also as obvious ...

The results will tell ....

 

[SacTown]

Everyone is forgetting that 2 of the games in this "slump" were based on calls, and sure the game shouldn't have gotten into that situation, but it is still a fact that the Kings would be sitting prettier without the bad calls. The team just needs to remain constant. We should hold onto the 13 point lead we ALWAYS get in the first half. It seems like things always occur at the worst times for the team. When the other team can't shoot, we can't either, and when they can, we can't either. But as I'm sure everyone know, the paint is what kills the team. We barely use it, and we can't block it.

 

[bibbyweb]

We will be allright. It is just a passing phase, just need to regroup and start playing some inspired basketball.

 

[piksi]

This is not a rock bottom. Not even close. 4 games in the lost clumn away from not making a PO. We know now how quickly that can go so let's hope we do not hit a rock bottom any time soon

 

[PFFFT!!]

I've said this before, but every single team we play goes off on penetrating into the paint. VC had a field day of easy penetrations. This team absolutely sucks in penetration defense. Fix penetration defense AT LEAST and we will be ok.

 

[Bricklayer]

I've said this before, but every single team we play goes off on penetrating into the paint. VC had a field day of easy penetrations. This team absolutely sucks in penetration defense. Fix penetration defense AT LEAST and we will be ok.

This is true. But my only solution to that is to try to play Tag. Otherwise people are whipping around our perimeter players at will and our big guys are all effectively nailed to the floor. With zero perimeter stoppers, and zero interios shotblockers, its a stuggle for us to even be mediocre on defense.

 

[Crackerman]

This is true. But my only solution to that is to try to play Tag. Otherwise people are whipping around our perimeter players at will and our big guys are all effectively nailed to the floor. With zero perimeter stoppers, and zero interios shotblockers, its a stuggle for us to even be mediocre on defense.

The only problem with playing Tag is that you need two other players on the team hitting their shots, since he provides 0 offense. Lately we do not have more than one player making their shots in a game.

 

[Bricklayer]

The only problem with playing Tag is that you need two other players on the team hitting their shots, since he provides 0 offense. Lately we do not have more than one player making their shots in a game.

Have I mentioned recently that before yesterday we were averaging 109ppg in February?

At a certain point you just have to say, ok, we're scoring more points than anybody else in the NBA...EXCEPT the teams we are playing every night. Might be worth it to drop the scoring back to oh, maybe 105ppg or so if it meant getting a little defense into the lineup in exchange.

 

[Crackerman]

Good point.... I just don't know that his all around game is good enough to help them win games, but at this point I am up for them even giving Bradley more playing time....

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Rock bottom? Are you on drugs? When did you start following this team, last week? Rock bottom? What's wrong with you?

 

[rnmeuy]

Rock bottom will be when the Kings don't make the playoffs, and I don't think that will happen. I sense a big turnaround in the second half when everyone is healthy.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Rock bottom will be when the Kings don't make the playoffs...

Huh?

 

[rnmeuy]

I meant rock bottom will be IF the kings don't make the playoffs, and I don't think that will happen.

 

[PFFFT!!]

This is true. But my only solution to that is to try to play Tag. Otherwise people are whipping around our perimeter players at will and our big guys are all effectively nailed to the floor. With zero perimeter stoppers, and zero interios shotblockers, its a stuggle for us to even be mediocre on defense.

Problem is Tag is a tree, nothing more than that. Miller is too busy guarding outside and helping the weakside and hes consistently getting smoked. I wish I could mold Tag and Miller and make Miller taller and a better shotblocker. That might keep people out.

 

[tienchi3x]

Miller had some great shotblocking in the first half. I think our starters are just running out of steam. Adelman needs to play bench more and we need Peja back.

 

[VF21]

Good point.... I just don't know that his all around game is good enough to help them win games, but at this point I am up for them even giving Bradley more playing time....

I would love to see Bradley get some PT. I'm hoping the team will be able to get some quality practices in during the break and get Bradley and Cuttino into the mix more.

For Cat to have come in cold and been anywhere even approaching productive when he's only had one practice with the team is, IMHO, an indication of much better things to come down the road.

Rock bottom? You can't even SEE rock bottom from where the Kings are right now.

 

[Diabeticwonder]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that the team is going to practice much at all during the break. I would think that they would only practice on Monday, the day before the Atlanta game. I think that the players all go their own way during the break and get away from basketball for a few days, which in the Kings case might not be such a bad idea.

 

[VF21]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that the team is going to practice much at all during the break. I would think that they would only practice on Monday, the day before the Atlanta game. I think that the players all go their own way during the break and get away from basketball for a few days, which in the Kings case might not be such a bad idea.

I'd be willing to bet they get together a couple of times. They have one home game before going out on the road again for SIX more games. I think they'll try to squeeze in at least some time together.

 

[Evenstar]

i sure hope this is rock bottom!!! i'll go crazy if it isn't!!!!

 

[Evilmav2]

This is true. But my only solution to that is to try to play Tag. Otherwise people are whipping around our perimeter players at will and our big guys are all effectively nailed to the floor. With zero perimeter stoppers, and zero interios shotblockers, its a stuggle for us to even be mediocre on defense.

I'd bet my bum nickel that playing Greg Ostertag might be just what the doctor ordered for y'alls Kings once this weekend's all-star festivities come to a close. The Big Tag is capable of wreaking defensive havoc with his shot-blocking prowess, he is a truly disruptive 'lane-clogger' whose muscle and hustle is capable of creating numerous open driving lanes for Cat, Bibby, and BJax (when he comes back), and his dominant defensive rebounding abilities would do much to shore up your King's woeful and manifest deficiencies on the glass.

Sure, the big man isn't able to consistently hit an 18 foot jump shot or effectively initiate the Adelman offense from the high post, but are those contributions that you really need from the 3rd big man in your rotation (a position that I would bet Tag would fill far more effectively than y'alls current two-headed Songaila/Bradley journeyman combo currently does)? I think not. It looks to me like the foundering ship Kings is in desperate, imperative need of improved team defense and rebounding, and I don't see anyone on y'alls roster, not named Brad Miller, who is better qualified to help provide that help to y'alls Kings than a certain highly mobile, 7-2, 270 pound behemoth named Big Greg Ostertag.

If I were a Sacramento Kings fan, I would just hope that Rick Adelman would soon realize that the effective incorporation of Greg Ostertag into the team's rotation might just be the best, if not the last, hope for a reversal of the King's recent, wretched fortune; As the unchaining of Greg Ostertag just might prove capable of salvaging a flagging season, and becoming the decisive pivot upon which all of your playoff hopes might eventually turn...

 

[TheSerbianQueen]

I think "rock bottom" is just too harsh of a statement.
They've had a rough week and a half or so, but it's not like the team is falling apart.

 

[HndsmCelt]

1. Trust me kids if you think this is rock bottom welcome to the band wagon.
2. Brick and Evil Mav are right on, the Kings have the answer to penatraing offense sitting on the bench. Adelman has to play Tag! Im not saying start him but give him bi min against the teams that are getting in the paint. Sure he brings zero D... BUT as Brick pointed out putting up points will ony help you win IF you put more up than your oponenets, and with the current waltz on in and score at will D the Kings are bringing that is exactly what is happening.
3. The question I am pondedring is this the Kings have the right pieces to win it all? If they don't then what realistic trade situations will bring it to the team. Personaly I think the pieces are there, they just are not fitting together well. Pedja needs to get his head on straight and play like he is capible. I suspect some rest will help both Bibby and Webb, Some practice with the team will help Cat incorporate into the offence. As far as the bench goes these do not need to be the guys other teams dread, but the guys that can pick up the offense when needed and patch up the D if it comes to that. Tag CAN shut down the paint. Mo bring in serious energy, House is starting to prove to be the offensive weapon he was billed as, Darius is dependable and durable, no defensive stopper but solid. The 2 guys that I would like to see woked into cleareer role palyers are Barnes and Martin. They are both talleneted players but neither is bringing much defenese (I do love the Martin gets in front of his assingments and takes charges) but in general these two need to define their roles.