Mark Kreidler: Citizens of Planet Erratica, blast off!

[G_M]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14090769p-14920848c.html

Mark Kreidler: Citizens of Planet Erratica, blast off!
By Mark Kreidler -- Bee Sports Columnist
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, January 19,

Kobe Bryant is the gate attraction tonight, but you knew that already. It's the other team, the one from Planet Erratica, that really bears watching.

Fresh off their finest performance of the season, the Kings got up Wednesday, took a good look around and chucked the whole project. They're going with Option Z.

Peja Stojakovic and his bulging disc are back in the starting lineup. Shareef Abdur-Rahim and his wired-shut jaw are headed for small-portion game minutes.

And the Kings, once again, are merrily sailing off into the land of no continuity. But give them this much: It is a place they know.

There's a certain blood-on-the-tracks allure about it all. It only figures that in the wake of Francisco García's best game of the year, he'd be headed to the bench. It's a matter of time before Kevin Martin joins him there in favor of Bonzi Wells.

Kenny Thomas and his 22-point, 15-rebound performance in that rout of Phoenix? As of tonight, slowly giving way to Abdur-Rahim, a few minutes at a time.

Oh, it may not feel so radical. It isn't as if Stojakovic wasn't going to return to the lineup sooner or later, and it's safe to say Abdur-Rahim wasn't acquired during the offseason to sit and watch.

Beyond that, both players took one for the team. Stojakovic had to be rendered unconscious to take a shot in his back designed to restore feeling and the sensation of strength in his leg, which was suffering from the disc problem. Abdur-Rahim has been absolutely valiant in trying to get back on the floor despite not being able to breathe through his mouth or take solid food because of his broken mandible.

But you know the result all the same. The result is that the Kings, again, have no idea what's going to happen when they run out on the floor against the Lakers.

When a team is 16-21, it's hard to make a case that it is taking any chances doing anything in particular to its lineup. But I'm not so sure right now.

The Phoenix game was one game, and the Suns were undeniably awful, but it still was one game in which Rick Adelman's starting unit wasn't emitting fumes and his bench (what there was of it) wasn't making things worse. Congratulations, Kroger: You're at the top of the Delta pledge class.

And don't look now, but we might just have a mini-trend. As erratically as the team has played, the Phoenix win put Sacramento at 6-4 over its last 10 games, a number momentarily stunning enough that I double-checked to make sure it was correct. I can't remember a single distinguishing thing about the other five victories in that span (well, Mike Bibby lit up the Clippers at the very far end of the 10 games), but let's not get picky here.

Relatively speaking, the return of the Kings' veterans is a good thing only if they agree not to gum up the works. Stojakovic needs to go out there and find a flow with Bibby and Martin. Abdur-Rahim can't allow his deliberate style to choke off the creativity.

And, sure, you can't count on that flow and that creativity. If you could, you wouldn't be looking at 16-21. Adelman made that much clear after practice Wednesday, reminding anyone who asked that his young-kid lineup was undoubtedly the least predictable of all from night to night.

The coach also made clear that Stojakovic ought to be able to jump right back in - at 34 to 36 minutes, Adelman guessed. Stojakovic himself was in high spirits after competing well on the practice floor, and you could tell how much he despised sitting around in dress clothes on game nights.

Abdur-Rahim clearly is a more tentative prospect. It's remarkable that he is trying to play again barely three weeks after having his jaw broken, but Adelman is figuring the forward for five-or six-minute bursts. How and when he gets those minutes are the immediate issues.

The longer-term questions, of course, revolve around García and Martin, and whether they can be productive NBA players while returning to reserve minutes. But these wouldn't be the current Kings without some mystery or other.

Bryant is amazing, but there's no mystery about him at all. You already know what he's going to do: drop two-or three-dozen shots on your noggin and finish with more points than you have pairs of socks. He isn't a player, he's an inevitability.

"Kobe brings it every night," Adelman said. "That's the sure thing."

On the other hand, we give you Planet Erratica's latest export, the Kings, shuffling the deck once again.

 

[VF21]

And yes, once again, Kreidler gets it.

I think he's said what a lot of our threads have been skirting around, only he's said it just a little better and without any of the animosity that seems to creep in about Peja, SAR, etc.

Relatively speaking, the return of the Kings' veterans is a good thing only if they agree not to gum up the works.

Let's repeat:

ONLY IF THEY AGREE NOT TO GUM UP THE WORKS.

Let's hope Naismith, god of basketball, is listening to our fervent prayers.

 

[playmaker0017]

I disagree completely.

This team is 6-4, but of it's 6 wins 2 were over teams without key players. 2 wins were over teams on major slides.

I don't think this team is "better" than the other team that was fielded. I'm not sure they are "worse". They definitely are different.

Phoenix was a fluke. Anyone that thinks people are coming back early because of that game are short sighted. Two games prior - they got railroaded by NO. One night they play like world beaters, the next they get beat by 20.

This team isn't consistant or gelled. You never know what team is going to show up.

I think the belief that Peja or Reef will "gum" up the team is absurd. There is nothing to gum up ... the team is losing the games it should and winning over opponents with superstars/all-stars out (or are on major slides).

The sole reason this team is functioning at a higher level right now is that they are getting production out of positions that were not providing anything before. The fact that they aren't turning to a bench that lets a 5 point lead turn into a 10 point deficit.

 

[VF21]

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, playmaker, although I saw this coming about eight miles down the road.

Here's the reality: the kids have done GOOD! Real good! And the team showed a little bit of continuity recently, with Peja, Bonzi and SAR on the bench.

I am very proud of what our KINGS have done the past couple of games. And I'm ecstatic about what the youngsters and Kenny Thomas have shown. If getting that to continue means SAR comes off the bench, I have no problem whatsoever with that. It's the name on the front and the score at the end of the game that matters to me.

Rationalizing why the team is winning right now is secondary to the undeniable fact that they've found a way to win. And to say they're only winning because some of the teams they're playing are without key players is specious at best. HELLO? We're also playing without key players; and our guys are showing the key players the attitude THEY should have.

GO KENNY, GO KEVIN, GO CISCO! If Peja and/or SAR can't give the type of gritty play those three young men have given, then I'm all for nailing their posteriors to the bench.

 

[playmaker0017]

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, playmaker, although I saw this coming about eight miles down the road.

Here's the reality: the kids have done GOOD! Real good! And the team showed a little bit of continuity recently, with Peja, Bonzi and SAR on the bench.

I think they haven't doen a poor job ... that's for sure. But, we all have to remember how terrible they played in the beginning of the season.

But neither have Bonzi or Shareef. Peja HAS been spotty, but he's also been injured. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Rationalizing why the team is winning right now is secondary to the undeniable fact that they've found a way to win. And to say they're only winning because some of the teams they're playing are without key players is specious at best. HELLO? We're also playing without key players; and our guys are showing the key players the attitude THEY should have.

I disagree. Steve Francis - maybe. McGrady is three times the player any of our players are (and they haven't won without him) and they were missing Yao.

GO KENNY, GO KEVIN, GO CISCO! If Peja and/or SAR can't give the type of gritty play those three young men have given, then I'm all for nailing their posteriors to the bench.

I don't think that Reef hasn't given gritty play. I also noticed you left out Bonzi Wells ... who also was absent during these wins.

This isn't a Shareef thing ... this is a "hey the kids played well" and really stepped it up ... let's hope they can continue this off the bench.

They played some of the worst basketball I've ever seen off the bench. Maybe it was confidence or what not ... but now they should be able to provide some production off the bench.

Our losses weren't Reef's fault. They weren't Bonzi's fault. For the most part, they weren't Peja's fault. They were the fact that our bench was misfiring and Bibby couldn't find his shot. (oh yeah, and no one really wanted to play defense ... and that certainly hasn't been better since the roster change).

 

[VF21]

Our losses were our losses. I don't attribute blame to any one person.

Our wins, however, are something else. I attribute our wins to the guys who stepped on the court, filled the gaps, stepped up their games and WON!

Until and unless I'm convinced that SAR and Peja are fully ready to come back, I see no reason to muck up the new-found confidence and swagger the team is getting.

Bringing those two back TONIGHT is a recipe for disaster, IMHO. SAR isn't going to be able to play major minutes. Peja might or might not do well, but getting shots just to restore feeling to your legs is a pretty scary situation.

As far as Bonzi goes, I haven't mentioned him for a couple of reasons. Primarily, however, he's not stepping back into the lineup. When he does, I'll be looking at what's happening and how he does, just as I'm looking at SAR and Peja.

I want this team to learn to play together and to feed off each other. That comes with time together on the court. And, to be totally blunt, I like what I see without Peja and SAR a lot better than what I was seeing with them. So sue me.

 

[thesanityannex]

I think the belief that Peja or Reef will "gum" up the team is absurd.

When was the last time you saw the team run the floor like that? Peja and Reef are slow and need a set offense. That is boring. I want to go with what has been working and is fun to watch.

 

[thesanityannex]

Our losses were our losses. I don't attribute blame to any one person.

Our wins, however, are something else. I attribute our wins to the guys who stepped on the court, filled the gaps, stepped up their games and WON!

Until and unless I'm convinced that SAR and Peja are fully ready to come back, I see no reason to muck up the new-found confidence and swagger the team is getting.

Bringing those two back TONIGHT is a recipe for disaster, IMHO. SAR isn't going to be able to play major minutes. Peja might or might not do well, but getting shots just to restore feeling to your legs is a pretty scary situation.

As far as Bonzi goes, I haven't mentioned him for a couple of reasons. Primarily, however, he's not stepping back into the lineup. When he does, I'll be looking at what's happening and how he does, just as I'm looking at SAR and Peja.

I want this team to learn to play together and to feed off each other. That comes with time together on the court. And, to be totally blunt, I like what I see without Peja and SAR a lot better than what I was seeing with them. So sue me.

Amen. I agree with everything you've said. This team has found somewhat of an identity and the fans love it. Peja and SAR at 80% will screw the chemistry up. They will both be slow and cautious while out there, trying not to reinjure themselves. I really hope Adelman realizes this, sadly, he won't.

 

[BMiller52]

This team plays better with KT, Garcia, and Kevin because we can do 2 things better: fast break, rebound. When we have Shareef in and he's getting his whopping 6 rebounds a game we don't get enough rebounds(same with peja). With peja in we can't run and get out on the break. I'd also like to add that there isn't enough penetration with these guys in, another thing Kevin and Fransisco bring. So really, we're not doing bad because they're bad players, they just don't bring enough of what we need. Atleast in my opinion. Also, to be honest I don't think they should come back when they aren't healthy. If peja's not hitting the 3 he's kinda just there and SAR needs the ball in the post for a long time to be effective-which isn't exactly something that fits in our ball movement plan. How is he going to go to work in the post when he's lost nearly 10 pounds and can bearly breath? How can Peja put the jump in his jump shot when he can't really jump and it's dangerous to do so?

 

[Bricklayer]

The only thing consistent about this team this year has been our inconsistency.

Yes, Kevin has been great. For two games. He was invisible for the 5 before that. Yes Garcia and KT were great...for 1 game. They have been wildly up and down before that.

These last 10 games have been interesting, but until this last one that 6-4 has been luck. Beating bad teams, hurt teams, and then getting embarrassed by anybody with a pulse. Given the state of the season I personally would probably just turn it over to the kids, import some more, and see what happens. But its not as if that is some foregone conclusion or "oh no, we can't disupt our wildly inconsistent team" thing.

Points over the last 10 (since the injuries):

Martin: 20, 22, 11, 17, 2, 6, 5, 6, 22, 25
KT: 8, 29, 11, 6, 21, 16, 14, 6, 11, 22
Garcia: 11, 2, 4, 1, 7, 0, 12, 17, 4, 21

Up, down, all around. Much as I see little upside to bringing back the stodgy old vets. Must as I would likely go young myself. What "rhythm" is there to mess up exactly?

And another note -- they've shown flashes, but it is far from a given that either Kevin or Cisco are going to become consistent established NBA starters, let alone stars. At some point they HAVE to be able to learn how to make an impact off the bench. Its part of growing up and playing in the NBA. Not college anymore. You're not the best guy on the team anymore. They've shown they can contribute mightily. Now they have to learn how to distill that into potent short minute punches until/if a starting roster spot opens up for them at some point int he future.

 

[VF21]

At some point, you have to be willing to admit what you've done in the past isn't working.

For the first time, the Kings have TWO GAMES in a row where they've shown passion, focus, etc. I personally will take that at this point over bringing the vets - especially considering the status of both of them - in just to teach the kids how to learn to make an impact off the bench.

It's not like we have anything to lose and I say it's time to reward the guys who did so well last game with a pretty clear pat on the back this time.

There might not be a rhythm you can base an entire franchise future on, but there is a spark that's been sorely missing. And around Sacramento and even in the more northern counties, people are talking about the team again.

Ride it while you can, because it's not gonna last forever. It's not ALWAYS about the long run. Sometimes you have to take your enjoyments when and where you can.