Ric Bucher-ESPN, interviewed about Kings

[CruzDude]

Grant and Mike just finished interviewing Ric Bucher of ESPN (5:30pm), who covers the NBA for ESPN, and asked about the west (Portland is all ???, Suns may have taken a step back, Rockets have the pieces but will they fit, Lakers better with new focus on defense, Clippers step back) and the Kings.

Bucher said the key to Kings success this year is Bonzi Wells. He is without a doubt one of the best 3 Shooting Guards and a really good defender. But how will he fit with a lame duck Coach (Adelmann has no contract extension) and the Bibby-Miller-Peja game? Grant and Mike wholeheartedly agreed. The fact that Adelmann has no contract extension was discussed as how that might effect what kind of team he can have.

Bucher then asked "Who is the leader of the Kings?" Mike and Grant said no one, and Buch then brought up how will they do in pressure situations and in games when someone has to step up. Grant reviewed that Miller and Peja both are not the personalities to be leaders, and I think we all agree to that.

Bibby tends to lead by example Grant indicated but then he reiterated an interview with Adelmann back in June in which Coach basically took Bibby to task when he indicated (paraphrasing as best I can) "If Bibby wants to be a leader, then let him show that with his defense". Grant piped in "..... so he doesn't let his man blow past him 50 times a game!"

In all Ric Bucher was very objective, sees the Kings potential, seems to feel SAR will blend and puts the team on the back of Bonzi.

 

[VF21]

Ric Bucher is an idiot. And the idea of him talking with Grant Napear makes me very GLAD I'm not able to pick up KHTK. I am also heartily sick of Grant Napear and his back-handed comments about the Kings and Rick Adelman in his lame attempts to be objective and insightful.

Ric Bucher interviewed by Grapenuts and Lamebrain? Sorry... not exactly anything I"m going to base my opinions of the upcoming season on.

 

[Coach]

Agree with you about Bucher. Disagree with you about Grant. I find Grant's candor to be refreshing.

 

[BigSong]

Ric Bucher is an idiot.

thats diplomatic, heh. Anyway, while Bucher is generally out of his element when it comes to small market teams, for the most part Bucher does bring up the major questions about the King's upcoming season. Bonzi is a huge question mark. Although I don't bye into his belief about Adelman being a lame duck. Most if not all the players like Adelman,and like playing for him. This is definitely a transition period for the team, that makes it difficult to evaluate players roles and such.

 

[VF21]

Agree with you about Bucher. Disagree with you about Grant. I find Grant's candor to be refreshing.

We'll agree to disagree. I think Grant is self-absorbed and often allows his own "importance" to outshine the veracity or relevance of some of his topics for discussion.

Grant Napear on the radio is so diametrically opposed from Grant the homer commentator you have to wonder which - if either - is actually the real Grant Napear.

 

[Kings113]

I don't think Bonzi will be much of a question mark. If he gets weird, I'll be surprised.

Different views and expectations.

 

[Bricklayer]

1) Bucher IS an idiot.

2) somewhat frighteningly he seems to be agreeing with me that Wells may be the key to the season.

3) However, he's getting there from a much different perspective -- Bonzi as a Top 3 OG? And to apparently therefore lead the team as its new star? I think Bonzi is very talented, is tough, plays defense and can force the action on offense (the reasons why I think he's so key), but I'm not holding my breath on him making this his team and carrying us to true contender status.

 

[ONEZERO]

top 3 sg's? iverson, kobe, carter, richardson, joe johnson, manu ginobli, ray allen, wade, etc.... thats a pretty elite group of sg's for bonzi to be a top 3 sg. ill have to disagree with buchers assesment on that.

 

[Kings113]

Iverson's a PG. Which is where he'll play again, especially with Mo there now (which has been spoken positively on). He's developed his point skills over the last 2 or 3 years.

Maybe Ric meant one of the best G-F . I guess Ric really likes his game.

 

[ONEZERO]

iversons only played point the last year. maybe the last 2, but thats stretchin it. hes still a sg in my book.

 

[Kings113]

Heh, okay...

 

[Gtronic]

"The fact that Adelmann has no contract extension was discussed as how that might effect what kind of team he can have. "

What do you guys think?

 

[Bricklayer]

"The fact that Adelmann has no contract extension was discussed as how that might effect what kind of team he can have. "

What do you guys think?

This isn't the first time Rick has had to enter a season without a contract extension. Seems like the Maloofs like to have him as sort of a glorified temp. Now witht he old team, that was never a serious issue. They were his team, his guys, and had played for him for years. I would hope there's still enough of that left now for the lame duck status not to matter, but SAR has been a bit difficult his last few years, and Bonzi of course would be the real concern. Nonetheless, I still have hope that Rick's status as one of the longest tenured coaches in the league will still give him status despite the lack of contract. Be critical that the Maloof's keep their mouths shut though. Any further undermining might reach a critical stage, not the least because I got the impression earlier in the summer that Rick might be just about ready to walk away.

 

[CruzDude]

I think Adelmann and Petri are on the same page. But the Maloofs want a Kings Championship. They peaked in 2002, slid a bit in 03 and 04 but failed miserably in playoffs last year. For the Kings to get 50 wins considering what happened, Adelmann should have been coach of the year. But his fuse is short now.

Is he one who can resurrect a team that will have a different personality than the past 5 years? Tough call. I think Coach has this year to get to conference finals or "hasta la vista, baby". Isn't Adelmann the 2nd or 3rd longest tenured coach in the NBA behind only Jerry Sloan..... and look what has happend in Utah.

If a team leader doesn't show up by All Star break and we are not at or near the top of the west, then Adelmann could be the least of our problems. They won't come out and win 10 of the first 12 or even 10 of their first 20 if they are going to be good. But IMHO we should begin to see who this years team really is by games 30-40.

 

[Kev.in]

Is he saying Bonzi is one of the top 3 SGs in the league? the west? the pacific? or just one of the top 3 on our team?

I don't know which one makes him look the least stupid, so maybe it doesn't matter.

 

[1kingzfan]

Today I heard Grant repeating over and over about Adelman's lame duck status as a big question mark for this season. But you know what? I have a hard time coming up with any in-game decisions or player rotation moves that he would do differently because he were a lame duck. You coach to win. Period.

And even if one tries to argue that there are some things that a lame duck coach may or may not do in certain situations, such as some tendency to not take risks (for instance), Adelman has the credentials to know he can get another NBA head coaching job at the drop of a hat. Just like PJ or JS, I don't think that Rick's contract status would ever change how he coaches.

Therefore, lame duck to RA means absolutely nothing.

 

[Bricklayer]

Therefore, lame duck to RA means absolutely nothing.

Well, normally the "lame duck" concern isn't over how the guy coaches, but over how the player's respond. Theory being if the coach is on the way out, they are less likely to listen to him or acceptr his moves if they don't like them. In extreme cases may even be disruptive in an attempt to get him removed earlier.

 

[1kingzfan]

Well, normally the "lame duck" concern isn't over how the guy coaches, but over how the player's respond. Theory being if the coach is on the way out, they are less likely to listen to him or acceptr his moves if they don't like them. In extreme cases may even be disruptive in an attempt to get him removed earlier.

Yeah, I see that, but I find it an unlikely occurrence, unless the team heads south for the winter. If it does, who's to argue with a coaching change then anyway? If the team is winning, you can still have a TMass type on the bench, but almost every team has at least one of those.

I just think the significance of the whole thing is blown way outta proportion.

 

[Bricklayer]

I just think the significance of the whole thing is blown way outta proportion.

I'm hoping it is in this particular case, ont he basis that one of the winningest coaches of all time and a guy who's been here for 7 years has enough authority even without a new deal.

But think its a very real concern if its some rookie first time coach on a short lease.

 

[KP]

Grant Napear is a backstabbing piece of trash, Bucher is a Moron, and Mike Lamb doesn't even rate a description. Adelman will do what he always does, get a lot out of his star players and win.

 

[ForlornKing]

Grant Napier get's paid to be dramitaclly opposed on Kings games and on the radio. C'mon now. He gets paid to be a homer and be a color commentator. He also gets paid to commit to controversy on his radio shows.

 

[KingsFan54]

Ric Bucher is an idiot. And the idea of him talking with Grant Napear makes me very GLAD I'm not able to pick up KHTK. I am also heartily sick of Grant Napear and his back-handed comments about the Kings and Rick Adelman in his lame attempts to be objective and insightful.

Ric Bucher interviewed by Grapenuts and Lamebrain? Sorry... not exactly anything I"m going to base my opinions of the upcoming season on.

you are so funny
but, I know you are serious.

 

[swisshh]

Wait, so Bucher called Wells a top 3 SG and noone called him on it?

Grant and Bucher, that's like the special olympics of sports analysis.