off the rails off season.

[VF21]

It's also history, STK... And, for the record, Ostertag himself has said in more than one interview that he WAS out of shape, and didn't do everything he could to get back into shape until well into the season, when he was already permanently ensconced in Adelman's doghouse.

Let's see what happens this coming season. If he's in condition, I think he'll most likely get PT...

 

[funkykingston]

Kobe torches everyone ... outside of Bowen and Prince ... AND CUTTINO MOBLEY!

One guy that really surprised me with how well he guarded Kobe was Tariq Abdul-Wahad. Of course, this was years ago when he was with the Kings, but I remember two games where TAW did about as good a job on Kobe as possible.

Prince wouldn't be able to check Kobe at all if it wasn't for Detroit's double teams and great defensive rotations. Brown's strategy was similar to the Daly's Bad Boys when they faced the Bulls early in MJ's career (before the Jordan rules). They double teamed, hacked, bumped and generally went after Scottie Pippen and dared Jordan to carry the team all by himself. The NBA won't allow nearly the same level of physicality today, but the idea was the same. Big Ben tried to guard Shaq straight up while Kobe was harrassed non-stop.

Prince was reasonably effective as the primary defender because his length meant that he could back off a bit (so as not to get blown by) but still close out to challenge shots well.

A guy who has the same kind of length but who is much more athletic and IMO guards Bryant much better one-on-one is Andrei Kirilenko. I'd love to see AK-47 in a Kings uniform.

As to the article at the beginning of this thread . . . eh, I'm done being pessimistic this summer. There's nothing in the article that I haven't thought or said myself using the glass is half empty vantage point. When the summers over I'll laud or decry Petrie's moves, but until then I'm not going to get too worried. I've seen a lot worse as a Kings fan.

I am most concerned with an arena deal to keep the team in town. Everything else is just the fluctuations that go with all but a very select group of sports franchises.

 

[allrightythen]

And to continue the irony somewhat, Phil Jackson mentions Cuttino Mobley at least four times in his book as being a force that absolutely drove Kobe nuts.

Go figure...

No wonder he didn't fit in well with the kings.

 

[SacTownKid]

It's also history, STK... And, for the record, Ostertag himself has said in more than one interview that he WAS out of shape, and didn't do everything he could to get back into shape until well into the season, when he was already permanently ensconced in Adelman's doghouse.

Let's see what happens this coming season. If he's in condition, I think he'll most likely get PT...

My answer to that is that Greg is a class guy and while I agree that Tag was irresponsible in his actions, I also think Adelman was irresponsible in not finding Tag those minutes he promised.

And I hope your right, if Tag shows up ready to go (which I fully expect!) then I hope he is given every chance to help this team.

Wouldn't that be something if Brad and Greg live up to their word and come in ready to go? I'll be pumped if Brad and Greg get pumped this offseason.

 

[VF21]

My answer to that is that Greg is a class guy, and I hope your right. If Tag shows up ready to go (which I fully expect!) then I hope he is given every chance to help this team like he can. Wouldn't that be something if Brad and Greg live up to their word and come in ready to go! I'd be pumped if Brad and Greg get pumped this offseason.

Whoooo! And if they're on the court at the same time we'd have a front court with the two slowest white guys who can't jump in the NBA!



I would love to see Tag actually contribute. If he could, and Brad could move to the 4 on occasion, we might be looking at some interesting developments.

 

[VF21]

My answer to that is that Greg is a class guy and while I agree that Tag was irresponsible in his actions, I also think Adelman was irresponsible in not finding Tag those minutes he promised.

And I hope your right, if Tag shows up ready to go (which I fully expect!) then I hope he is given every chance to help this team.

Wouldn't that be something if Brad and Greg live up to their word and come in ready to go? I'll be pumped if Brad and Greg get pumped this offseason.

I liked your comment better before you changed it. We don't know what happened in practice. We do know that Tag spent a lot of team sitting behind the bench, which was pretty indicative that all was not well. It's problematic if we'll ever know why. I really think Adelman had a reason for not playing him. Unfortunately for us, Adelman isn't the type who handles his team discipline through the media, so we may never know those reasons.

 

[SacTownKid]

Whoooo! And if they're on the court at the same time we'd have a front court with the two slowest white guys who can't jump in the NBA!



I would love to see Tag actually contribute. If he could, and Brad could move to the 4 on occasion, we might be looking at some interesting developments.

Yes they may be the slowest but it also means that the paint is SEALED! That and our perimeter D will have no choice but to get better. I think these guys know that they are going to be under a lot of pressure to succeed in their areas of weakness. No more excuses, the time has come to show what these guys are made of! I for one am pretty stoked to see this trial by fire.

Plus at least Tag doesn't need to jump to grab boards. He just sticks his long arms up in the air and bats the ball around until he can grab it. Hes like a freakin' circus bear!

 

[SacTownKid]

I liked your comment better before you changed it. We don't know what happened in practice. We do know that Tag spent a lot of team sitting behind the bench, which was pretty indicative that all was not well. It's problematic if we'll ever know why. I really think Adelman had a reason for not playing him. Unfortunately for us, Adelman isn't the type who handles his team discipline through the media, so we may never know those reasons.

I felt my comments didn't fit in well enough with the cynical nature of the board lately! I needed to blame somebody for something!

 

[VF21]

I felt my comments didn't fit in well enough with the cynical nature of the board lately! I needed to blame somebody for something!

SacTownKid wins the thread...

 

[captain bill]

A guy who has the same kind of length but who is much more athletic and IMO guards Bryant much better one-on-one is Andrei Kirilenko. I'd love to see AK-47 in a Kings uniform.

I would be a very happy man were that to happen. Of course, the odds of the Kings going after a defensive force like him are less than good.

 

[tyrant]

greg ostertag is not the player i thought he'd be before he came here. i wanted to see at least 8points 7 rebounds and at least 1.5 blocks per game from this guy. he hasn't found many minutes; i wonder why. he's the luc longley for the kings and we can't expect to win games unless we have jordan/pippen caliber players. or a better center.

 

[Bricklayer]

I would be a very happy man were that to happen. Of course, the odds of the Kings going after a defensive force like him are less than good.

Well, I think just about everybody, even us ( ) would like to have Andrei. But the problem is that its hard to conceive of anybody the Jazz would even consider trading him for at this point. he might turn out to be the first franchsie roleplayer. Okay, maybe the 2nd one to Big Ben.

 

[allrightythen]

Everything in the article has been dicussed in length here on hte board, but it was nice to see a concise little summary all in one place I guess.

Recent developments have concerned me a little though. If I am to believe what I hear from our front office, the key to our defensive/rebounding improving is our "core" of Bibby/Peja/Miller. YIKES!!!! Sure they are all good basketball players, but when have any of them excelled at either of those two categories? But to call them the key to our improvement in that area just scares me. Then I hear that we are looking at Shareef Abdur Rahim as a possible FA or S&T acquisition. Yikes again. Same deal as above, good player but does not address anything we seem to be lacking. Maybe I just believe to much of what I hear and/or read, but it seems like there is this unfounded belief that players who are not good rebounders or defenders can band together and somehow do what none of them individually ever considered. Or have we decided that our ultimate goal is to score 150 points and dare our opponents to keep up.

Disclaimer: I was quite pleased with the Nene talks and the consideration of Bonzi Wells even though both seem(ed) like a stretch.