If Evans played in this game...
I think the Kings win! That is saying something! They are playing HARD! They are not necessarily playing SMART. They are a very very young team. I think with Evans to help them close at the end, they would have won this game.
We didn't have a LEADER to step up his game and close out the other team. Lately for use that has been Tyreke. Which only goes to show what a great draft pick Evans really was. Petrie hit it out of the PARK on Evans. He is going to become a closer in this league, and winning in the NBA is all about having a closer to seal the deal. Evans would have gotten to the line or made the tough J on each possession at the end of the game. Without that kind of player, it's hard to finish on the road especially.
Jason Thompson is our inside presence. Casspi is our 6th man. Evans is going to be our closer. Nocioni and Udoka are contributing veterans! This team is short one Center (backup or starter) who can come in and play and defend the center position in this league. The Kings are VERY CLOSE! The emergence of Greene and having JT playing the way he is in only his SECOND year, this is an unexpected TREAT! Now we need Hawes to improve slightly too! he needs to at least be mediocre and defend his position. He doesn't need to score and he needs to be made aware of that!
When Martin and Garcia come back, they will need to find their ROLES in the team. Westphal is assigning everyone a role and giving players playing time when they play well at both ends. If you are not playing well at both ends you go to the bench no matter who you are. Hope K-MART is watch this! He will spend a lot of time on the bench if he doesn't play better "D". Garcia will easily slip into his role, because he plays both offense and defense. This is going to be exciting to watch !!
GO KINGS !
Tyreke Evans for ROTY !!!