They may still be trying to have fun but it has been a painful season for the Sacramento Kings and deep down they are probably all looking forward to summer, except maybe Eric Musselman.
While he may be counting the days for this season to end he may not be looking forward to explaining to the Maloofs and Geoff Petrie what went wrong. No doubt he has his rationalizations as well as his propositions for next season but it all may be too little too late.
There has been an increase in calls for Musselman to be the fall guy here; however there are also those who have said that it’s on the players and a coach can only do so much. There’s no disagreement that the team has its’ weaknesses, especially rebounding and defense, however individually these players should be able to put together a team that is a playoff team. That’s on the coach. The coach should be able to take his players and put them in a system that capitalizes on their strengths not one that emphasizes their weaknesses. One has to wonder what this team would have done under an offensive minded coach like Don Nelson.
Ultimately Musselman’s tenure may not be based on what happened this season but what happens this summer. If the Kings keep two of three of their core players, Mike Bibby, Ron Artest and Brad Miller they will have to find a new coach. Musselman has shown that he just doesn’t have what he needs to motivate these veteran players. However, if the Kings are able to trade two of the core and go into full rebuilding mode they may decide to keep Musselman for at least another year.
It’s hard not to put most of the onus on Musselman. If his job is to make the whole greater than the sum of the parts it looks like he failed, but the votes even there may be split.
Kevin Martin has unquestionably had the best season of his career. His improvement isn’t only statistically but in un-measurable components as well, his understanding of the game, his ability to play with his teammates and his confidence have all improved. His improvement started over the summer under Musselman’s direction in the summer league games. He’s carried that drive into the regular season and under Musselman has become a better player.
Ron Artest, for all his problems off the court and all the rumored distractions in the locker room, has also had a strong season. He is playing above his career averages and for the most part has been the most vocal player when it comes to buying into Musselman’s philosophy on defense. Although he may disrupt the fluidity of the Kings offense he is the team’s number two scorer, and the bewilderment on offense may not be purely his doing.
For all the improvements of Martin they were offset by the year Bibby had. Maybe it was his wrist and thumb injury from the beginning of the year, maybe it was just one of those years, but for all the legitimate discussion on Bibby’s missing defense his lack of offense may have hurt the team more. Bibby’s strength in the past was in getting shots off the screen or getting open under the basket due to the threat of a Brad Miller or another such shooter from the perimeter pulling away the defense. He’s not a Tony Parker who can quickly drive to the basket or a Steve Nash but he had certainly been successful in the past with his offensive game. As a coach you have to play with the cards you are dealt whether you like the hand or not. Mike Bibby can score and Musselman didn’t advantage of what he had.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim, like Bibby, had the worst season of his career. Granted he is in his 11th season and age and injuries start to play a bigger role in each game but when a usually reliable player has the worst performance in just about every area one needs to question why. Is it purely the player or are there other factors at hand. Again if it is just one player it could be on him but when two or three of a team’s most productive players are struggling it points to something else.
Like Shareef, Kenny Thomas fell further out of favor with his coach and with the fans. Suffering from a variety of injuries as well as possibly an injured ego Thomas, who Musselman needed to perform on defense in order to get his game plan to click, never came through. Thomas never seemed to find a groove on this team but if you don’t know what your role is finding your place isn’t easy.
Setting the tone back in Musselman’s favor was the re-emergence of Corliss Williamson. After languishing under Rich Adelman, Williamson found favor under the Musselman regime. Part of Williamson’s improvement may have been purely due to more playing time but it also was keyed to the confidence Musselman placed in Williamson. As a veteran player he filled in the gap that may have been created by a lack of support between Musselman and Bibby and Miller, and Williamson proved he still has some hoops left. However, Williamson’s revival is compared to last season, and however improved he was over 2005-6 it wasn’t enough to make up for what was not there.
Part of what was not there was Brad Miller’s game. While not Miller’s worst season overall it was his worst since coming to Sacramento and he performed below his career averages. Again, like with Bibby, Miller suffered from an injury, his a more chronic problem with plantar fasciitis, but even with an injury and playing at maybe 80% physically what he gave the team was more like 50%. Also like Bibby Miller’s offensive game is what was disrupted. Not known for his defense, Miller is a small forward in a center’s body. Musselman should have known what he had with Miller but he didn’t play him to emphasize his strengths.
John Salmons had the best season of his career, unfortunately for him he couldn’t really enjoy it being on a losing team. Having the playing time and the opportunities Salmon made the most of what he had. Getting the most out of your bench players is important but if it is at the expense of your core players the outcome won’t be positive.
Rounding up the team are Francisco Garcia, Ronnie Price, Quincy Douby and Justin Williams. All young players who showed sparks during the season, however without consistent feedback or playing time may not have been able to play up to their capabilities.
Musselman’s first year with the Kings was plagued by a variety of setbacks. On a personal level he started out the season with the DUI, from a management perspective there was the debacle with the arena vote. Then he had to face injuries to Bibby and Miller, off court problems with Artest and ultimately an unhappy locker room. Some of this he brought on himself, some it’s just the life of an NBA coach, but what may do him in is inability to adjust to it all. Of his primary players, four showed improvement and four crumbled, with such a split where does the blame go?
Most likely the current line up for the Kings is not one that Musselman really wanted, however it was what he had and he didn’t do much to improve it or even work with it. He may have told Petrie what he wanted in terms of players but as a new coach he still has to earn that respect in having a GM find players for him. At this point he may not only not get the players he wants he may be out of a team altogether.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_21641.shtml
most of this article is true.. i agree with it.
While he may be counting the days for this season to end he may not be looking forward to explaining to the Maloofs and Geoff Petrie what went wrong. No doubt he has his rationalizations as well as his propositions for next season but it all may be too little too late.
There has been an increase in calls for Musselman to be the fall guy here; however there are also those who have said that it’s on the players and a coach can only do so much. There’s no disagreement that the team has its’ weaknesses, especially rebounding and defense, however individually these players should be able to put together a team that is a playoff team. That’s on the coach. The coach should be able to take his players and put them in a system that capitalizes on their strengths not one that emphasizes their weaknesses. One has to wonder what this team would have done under an offensive minded coach like Don Nelson.
Ultimately Musselman’s tenure may not be based on what happened this season but what happens this summer. If the Kings keep two of three of their core players, Mike Bibby, Ron Artest and Brad Miller they will have to find a new coach. Musselman has shown that he just doesn’t have what he needs to motivate these veteran players. However, if the Kings are able to trade two of the core and go into full rebuilding mode they may decide to keep Musselman for at least another year.
It’s hard not to put most of the onus on Musselman. If his job is to make the whole greater than the sum of the parts it looks like he failed, but the votes even there may be split.
Kevin Martin has unquestionably had the best season of his career. His improvement isn’t only statistically but in un-measurable components as well, his understanding of the game, his ability to play with his teammates and his confidence have all improved. His improvement started over the summer under Musselman’s direction in the summer league games. He’s carried that drive into the regular season and under Musselman has become a better player.
Ron Artest, for all his problems off the court and all the rumored distractions in the locker room, has also had a strong season. He is playing above his career averages and for the most part has been the most vocal player when it comes to buying into Musselman’s philosophy on defense. Although he may disrupt the fluidity of the Kings offense he is the team’s number two scorer, and the bewilderment on offense may not be purely his doing.
For all the improvements of Martin they were offset by the year Bibby had. Maybe it was his wrist and thumb injury from the beginning of the year, maybe it was just one of those years, but for all the legitimate discussion on Bibby’s missing defense his lack of offense may have hurt the team more. Bibby’s strength in the past was in getting shots off the screen or getting open under the basket due to the threat of a Brad Miller or another such shooter from the perimeter pulling away the defense. He’s not a Tony Parker who can quickly drive to the basket or a Steve Nash but he had certainly been successful in the past with his offensive game. As a coach you have to play with the cards you are dealt whether you like the hand or not. Mike Bibby can score and Musselman didn’t advantage of what he had.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim, like Bibby, had the worst season of his career. Granted he is in his 11th season and age and injuries start to play a bigger role in each game but when a usually reliable player has the worst performance in just about every area one needs to question why. Is it purely the player or are there other factors at hand. Again if it is just one player it could be on him but when two or three of a team’s most productive players are struggling it points to something else.
Like Shareef, Kenny Thomas fell further out of favor with his coach and with the fans. Suffering from a variety of injuries as well as possibly an injured ego Thomas, who Musselman needed to perform on defense in order to get his game plan to click, never came through. Thomas never seemed to find a groove on this team but if you don’t know what your role is finding your place isn’t easy.
Setting the tone back in Musselman’s favor was the re-emergence of Corliss Williamson. After languishing under Rich Adelman, Williamson found favor under the Musselman regime. Part of Williamson’s improvement may have been purely due to more playing time but it also was keyed to the confidence Musselman placed in Williamson. As a veteran player he filled in the gap that may have been created by a lack of support between Musselman and Bibby and Miller, and Williamson proved he still has some hoops left. However, Williamson’s revival is compared to last season, and however improved he was over 2005-6 it wasn’t enough to make up for what was not there.
Part of what was not there was Brad Miller’s game. While not Miller’s worst season overall it was his worst since coming to Sacramento and he performed below his career averages. Again, like with Bibby, Miller suffered from an injury, his a more chronic problem with plantar fasciitis, but even with an injury and playing at maybe 80% physically what he gave the team was more like 50%. Also like Bibby Miller’s offensive game is what was disrupted. Not known for his defense, Miller is a small forward in a center’s body. Musselman should have known what he had with Miller but he didn’t play him to emphasize his strengths.
John Salmons had the best season of his career, unfortunately for him he couldn’t really enjoy it being on a losing team. Having the playing time and the opportunities Salmon made the most of what he had. Getting the most out of your bench players is important but if it is at the expense of your core players the outcome won’t be positive.
Rounding up the team are Francisco Garcia, Ronnie Price, Quincy Douby and Justin Williams. All young players who showed sparks during the season, however without consistent feedback or playing time may not have been able to play up to their capabilities.
Musselman’s first year with the Kings was plagued by a variety of setbacks. On a personal level he started out the season with the DUI, from a management perspective there was the debacle with the arena vote. Then he had to face injuries to Bibby and Miller, off court problems with Artest and ultimately an unhappy locker room. Some of this he brought on himself, some it’s just the life of an NBA coach, but what may do him in is inability to adjust to it all. Of his primary players, four showed improvement and four crumbled, with such a split where does the blame go?
Most likely the current line up for the Kings is not one that Musselman really wanted, however it was what he had and he didn’t do much to improve it or even work with it. He may have told Petrie what he wanted in terms of players but as a new coach he still has to earn that respect in having a GM find players for him. At this point he may not only not get the players he wants he may be out of a team altogether.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_21641.shtml
most of this article is true.. i agree with it.
