[Game] Kings vs Bulls, 12/29/11 Game Thread

[Tyndel]

I understand where you're coming from, trust me. But the simple fact is that when your best players are 21, 22, 22, and 24 years old, things are going to get ugly quite often unless you happen to be lucky enough to have a LeBron/Durant/Howard caliber player. The Kings don't have a player of that caliber and all of their veterans are role players. Basically at this point there's nothing you can do but wait for the Evans, Cousins, Thornton/Jimmer core to develop and mature. Those are the guys the team put their hopes for the future in and so far they've played only 3 NBA games together.

I know people want the break through to come this year but it just isn’t a realistic expectation. This year we should be looking for growth, competitiveness, etc. If that’s not happening after they get a few months into the season, then there’s cause for real concern. But if it is happening by then, then it’s a sign that things are progressing and that this team will be a playoff team in the future.

And if you don't teach your core to play correctly and together then its all for naught and they will continue iso's till the team is blown up again. We have to have some sort of real offense and the coach needs to call it from the side and hold the youth accountable until they can hold themselves as a group accountable.

I personally would not let them leave the practice/team meeting everyday until everyone on the team hit 100 freethrows. I would keep track of how many total it took each person and post them for the entire team to see. Then I would sit them all down in front of a TV and show them type of sharing passing smooth offense we had 10 years ago.

If we somehow beat the teams that don't have the talent we do it won't matter because unless we start these guys playing the right way on both sides we will never get to contender status.

 

[TehSwimGuy]

I understand where you're coming from, trust me. But the simple fact is that when your best players are 21, 22, 22, and 24 years old, things are going to get ugly quite often unless you happen to be lucky enough to have a LeBron/Durant/Howard caliber player. The Kings don't have a player of that caliber and all of their veterans are role players. Basically at this point there's nothing you can do but wait for the Evans, Cousins, Thornton/Jimmer core to develop and mature. Those are the guys the team put their hopes for the future in and so far they've played only 3 NBA games together.

I know people want the break through to come this year but it just isn’t a realistic expectation. This year we should be looking for growth, competitiveness, etc. If that’s not happening after they get a few months into the season, then there’s cause for real concern. But if it is happening by then, then it’s a sign that things are progressing and that this team will be a playoff team in the future.

I guess my major concern is that okay, we wait for them to mature. But you can only give them so long. If the Kings are so slow moving, and can't mesh, and it's going to take more years of "transition", then contracts will expire. And I guarantee championship caliber teams with championship caliber coaches will go after Tyreke, or DeMarcus. And then what do we do? The allure of an actual championship-possible squad will be more than enough to tempt people away from Sac.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

I guess my major concern is that okay, we wait for them to mature. But you can only give them so long. If the Kings are so slow moving, and can't mesh, and it's going to take more years of "transition", then contracts will expire. And I guarantee championship caliber teams with championship caliber coaches will go after Tyreke, or DeMarcus. And then what do we do? The allure of an actual championship-possible squad will be more than enough to tempt people away from Sac.

I agree that you can only wait so long. And if they don't show some real signs of improvement this season, then I think it's time to start questioning things. I just think it's too early right now to say that they won't make improvements this season. Need to wait at least 1/3 of the season before we can have a really good read on things. If after 20 games they're 4 and 16, then yeah, it's panic time! But they could just as easily be 9 and 11 after 20 games and i think MOST people would be happy, or at least content with that. That's why I don't understand making all these assessments after a few games. Much too small a sample size to reach any meaningful conclusions.

 

[sdballer]

I guess my major concern is that okay, we wait for them to mature. But you can only give them so long. If the Kings are so slow moving, and can't mesh, and it's going to take more years of "transition", then contracts will expire. And I guarantee championship caliber teams with championship caliber coaches will go after Tyreke, or DeMarcus. And then what do we do? The allure of an actual championship-possible squad will be more than enough to tempt people away from Sac.

My bigger question is what are we waiting for in regards to westphal. He's had the same problems since he has been here (and some of the same in his other stops as well). We say we need the year to see how the youngs guys develop and the team comes together and i just dont see how that happens with westphal as coach.

 

[TehSwimGuy]

Yeah. I feel like he's been the exact same variable. I've heard about his coaching in college, etc.

But on to the schedule:

The Kings have the Knicks (Melo, Stoudemire, Chandler), New Orleans (unbeaten thus far), and quite the lineup facing them in January. They best get working. Bobby J tweeted they have ALOT to work on, so I hope they get after it.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

On the bright side, the Knicks aren't looking that great yet. They look very beatable. After the Knicks, it's the Hornets, also very beatable. Back to back home wins there could do wonders for team and fan morale. Go Kings!

 

[jcwkings]

Mike D'Antoni will see our abysmal transition defense and make their players push the ball down our throats every possesion. If they don't improve it will get ugly fast.

 

[TehSwimGuy]

Well, the Hornets are 2-0 and have beaten the Suns and the Celtics...so we'll see. I have doubts. Knicks might not look great, but against a team with no D like the Kings, I see Melo having a field day. On the other hand, I hope I'm proven wrong and they get smashed by the Kings.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

Well, the Hornets are 2-0 and have beaten the Suns and the Celtics...so we'll see. I have doubts. Knicks might not look great, but against a team with no D like the Kings, I see Melo having a field day. On the other hand, I hope I'm proven wrong and they get smashed by the Kings.

Those Hornets wins don't impress me much. The Suns are not that good and the Celtics are without Paul Pierce. The Knicks have no depth and they have slow guards. I really think the Kings should match up well against them.

 

[Tetsujin]

Lol, no offense at the phrasing of the question. I usually mean that rhetorically. I know people can have different opinions of the same game.

But how long do we call them a "team in transition"? Personally I think the "transition window" has just about closed.

We are the youngest team in the league. I'm really not sure why the 'transition window' would be closed.

 

[Tetsujin]

On the bright side, the Knicks aren't looking that great yet. They look very beatable. After the Knicks, it's the Hornets, also very beatable. Back to back home wins there could do wonders for team and fan morale. Go Kings!

Spending most of your money on your superduperstar frontcourt while jettisoning your best guard and then replacing him with a 50-year old Mike Bibby will do that to ya.