By Martin McNeal - mmcneal@sacbee.com
http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/473852.html
Panic usually doesn't enter the mix here. And since we're just three games into the Kings' season, it hasn't.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Pardon me. A scream was necessary to keep the impending panic from taking over.
The Kings quite possibly could have lost their first three games even if they had the services of (the suspended) Ron Artest and (the injured) Mike Bibby. Since they didn't have those two leaders, it's not surprising they enter tonight's home opener 0-3.
The concern, though, is how the Kings played in losses at New Orleans, San Antonio and Dallas.
Yes, it's only three games, and the Kings' world was altered when Bibby tore the ligament in his left thumb just before the season started, and Sacramento played good teams last week. But, man, c'mon.
If the big men continue playing at this subpar level, the returns of Artest and Bibby aren't going to truly mean that much.
It has been my perspective that undrafted rookie Darryl Watkins has been the Kings' most productive big man so far, so coach Reggie Theus was asked what he thought.
Theus looked down and replied with a question of his own.
"Why do you want to ask me that?" he queried. "But in all honesty, per minute, yes. He's given the most energy and activity. He's been a presence in there. Brad (Miller) has made shots, but defensively, all of our big men need to do better."
Miller is playing with a sore back. OK, that's admirable to play in pain, but basically, he's just a 7-foot spot-up shooter unless he begins to rebound, play physically around the hoop on each end and show some heart.
And if he's hurting too badly to do those things, then sit his butt on the bench until he's healthy enough to contribute.
It's almost too soon to get on Mikki Moore. The man has played only three games with the Kings, and I realize he hardly was known as a rebounder when he was signed. But averaging 3.3 rebounds in 24 minutes per game when the other big man isn't doing squat on the boards doesn't cut it.
What Moore did do last season for the New Jersey Nets was make mid-range jump shots and run the floor. Hopefully, his jumper will begin falling again. Until it does, a few more rebounds and a couple of blocked shots isn't too much to ask, is it?
Well, good, because we're asking. And yes, Moore, like Miller, will take a charge. But man, it's not illegal for a 7-footer to block a shot. In fact, it's encouraged.
There is no false belief here that the Kings have a wealth of physical, aggressive and active big men. Yet it's time for their veteran frontcourt players to bring their lunch boxes, hard hats and knee pads and stop embarrassing themselves.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim still is returning from knee surgery, but he is averaging more rebounds than Moore and just 0.6 fewer than Miller in fewer minutes. Unless the Kings are withholding information about Abdur-Rahim's knee, put my man out there for a few more minutes. Even if his mobility is limited a tad, it's not as if any of the other big men are getting it done defensively or on the boards.
So Abdur-Rahim will be no worse than them and might even provide the threat of scoring with his back to the basket.
It will be interesting too see where Kenny Thomas goes from here. Two games into the season, Theus replaced him in the starting lineup. No disrespect intended, and certainly, I've never experienced the view as a 6-7 or 6-8 guy, but how can Thomas miss so many shots around the basket?
He has taken only five shots this season, so this is a view from watching him since he came over from Philadelphia. Now, maybe I'm being unfair, but a dude his size should never miss wide-open layups.
OK, maybe one a season, if his hand is moist. Maybe. Dunk the ball, my man.
Overall, though, Thomas needs nothing more to get back onto the floor than to become a rebounding fiend. Do it in practice, in the games – shoot, do it at home around the garbage can.
Theus has shown he's not going to keep guys on the floor who don't give him what he wants. The hook is long, and the patience is short.
http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/473852.html
Panic usually doesn't enter the mix here. And since we're just three games into the Kings' season, it hasn't.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Pardon me. A scream was necessary to keep the impending panic from taking over.
The Kings quite possibly could have lost their first three games even if they had the services of (the suspended) Ron Artest and (the injured) Mike Bibby. Since they didn't have those two leaders, it's not surprising they enter tonight's home opener 0-3.
The concern, though, is how the Kings played in losses at New Orleans, San Antonio and Dallas.
Yes, it's only three games, and the Kings' world was altered when Bibby tore the ligament in his left thumb just before the season started, and Sacramento played good teams last week. But, man, c'mon.
If the big men continue playing at this subpar level, the returns of Artest and Bibby aren't going to truly mean that much.
It has been my perspective that undrafted rookie Darryl Watkins has been the Kings' most productive big man so far, so coach Reggie Theus was asked what he thought.
Theus looked down and replied with a question of his own.
"Why do you want to ask me that?" he queried. "But in all honesty, per minute, yes. He's given the most energy and activity. He's been a presence in there. Brad (Miller) has made shots, but defensively, all of our big men need to do better."
Miller is playing with a sore back. OK, that's admirable to play in pain, but basically, he's just a 7-foot spot-up shooter unless he begins to rebound, play physically around the hoop on each end and show some heart.
And if he's hurting too badly to do those things, then sit his butt on the bench until he's healthy enough to contribute.
It's almost too soon to get on Mikki Moore. The man has played only three games with the Kings, and I realize he hardly was known as a rebounder when he was signed. But averaging 3.3 rebounds in 24 minutes per game when the other big man isn't doing squat on the boards doesn't cut it.
What Moore did do last season for the New Jersey Nets was make mid-range jump shots and run the floor. Hopefully, his jumper will begin falling again. Until it does, a few more rebounds and a couple of blocked shots isn't too much to ask, is it?
Well, good, because we're asking. And yes, Moore, like Miller, will take a charge. But man, it's not illegal for a 7-footer to block a shot. In fact, it's encouraged.
There is no false belief here that the Kings have a wealth of physical, aggressive and active big men. Yet it's time for their veteran frontcourt players to bring their lunch boxes, hard hats and knee pads and stop embarrassing themselves.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim still is returning from knee surgery, but he is averaging more rebounds than Moore and just 0.6 fewer than Miller in fewer minutes. Unless the Kings are withholding information about Abdur-Rahim's knee, put my man out there for a few more minutes. Even if his mobility is limited a tad, it's not as if any of the other big men are getting it done defensively or on the boards.
So Abdur-Rahim will be no worse than them and might even provide the threat of scoring with his back to the basket.
It will be interesting too see where Kenny Thomas goes from here. Two games into the season, Theus replaced him in the starting lineup. No disrespect intended, and certainly, I've never experienced the view as a 6-7 or 6-8 guy, but how can Thomas miss so many shots around the basket?
He has taken only five shots this season, so this is a view from watching him since he came over from Philadelphia. Now, maybe I'm being unfair, but a dude his size should never miss wide-open layups.
OK, maybe one a season, if his hand is moist. Maybe. Dunk the ball, my man.
Overall, though, Thomas needs nothing more to get back onto the floor than to become a rebounding fiend. Do it in practice, in the games – shoot, do it at home around the garbage can.
Theus has shown he's not going to keep guys on the floor who don't give him what he wants. The hook is long, and the patience is short.