SLAB's King Overview: A Look Back.

[SLAB]

Here we go...Looking back at the season I decided to pull up my analysis and write some on that. So without further ado, here we go!

Here's the original post... http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15516

Point Guards
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Starter: Mike Bibby --- Still tends to be one of the more underrated players in the league...Overall really good offensive player, but as usuall his defense is his achilles heel...Will he have a new role under Coach Musselman? Will he be more of a play-maker like his Grizzly days, or will he continue to be the shoot-first PG we all know...Without being the leader-by-default, I see a breakout year for Mike, where he can just sit back and do his thing.

Best Case: 23ppg, 5.5apg, 3rpg...Finally makes his first All Star Game.
Worst Case: 18ppg, 6apg, 3rpg...Game takes a hit with new coach.

True Case: 17.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.8 apg...Worst than worst case.

---I don't think anyone could have imagined Bibby with this poor of season...Didn't lead, didn't shoot, didn't provide heroics. Shot 40% from the field and 32 from downtown...Ouch.

Backup: Jason Hart --- I have a personal bias against Jason Hart...I think he was one of the worst players in the NBA last year...That aside, he still can get down into a defensive position, and attempt to guard you...Musselman stresses defense, and Jason provides...He hopefully will revert back to the distributor he was in Charlotte two years back...If not, I hope to see him unemployed by mid-season.

Best Case: 2ppg, 3.5apg, 1rpg...Plays solid defense in spurts.
Worst Case: 2ppg, 1apg, 1rpg...Defense fails him, and he's cut by mid-season.

True Case: Cut at mid-season after head-butting with higher ups.

---Then turns into a solid contributor for the Clippers...Thanks for the memories, Jason.

3rd String: Quincy Douby --- The sharpshooter...Can he be our new Bobby Jackson? Can he come off the bench with a gunners mentality and drain threes, even though he is undersized and not a natural point guard? I sure hope so, because we have sorely lacked a player like pretty much since Bobby got all fragile on us...Will he do it? Probably not this year...Can he do it? Just maybe.

Best Case: 7ppg, 1apg, 1rpg...Shows signs of being our next Bobby Jackson.
Worst Case: 2ppg, 1apg, 1rpg...Maybe next year.

True Case: 2.6ppg, 0.3apg, 0.9rpg...Maybe next year?

---Showed flashes...Could be a good scorer in due time...Not enough to be for certain about anything, though.

PG: Ronnie Price --- We now have a glut of point guards, but Petrie likes his talent...Can shoot the three, and shows he tries on defense...Could easily take Jason Harts place if Hart were to be dealt/cut...I think he will make this team.

True Case: 3.3 ppg, 0.8apg, 1.2rpg...Potential is still there

---The way he was used was just bizarre...Played the first bunch of games as the backup, pissed in Muss' cereal, got benched, eventually came back and played okay...Nothing overly special other than the dunk of the year.

Shooting Guards

Starter: Kevin Martin --- It's time to put up or shut up...With Bonzi gone, Kevin gets his shot to shine...He showed last year he has the ability to be able to do it...He can shoot it but can't score as Bonzi did...He can rebound good for a 2, but nowhere in Bonzi's league...In the end, we lose something going to Kevin this year, but he has a bright future, and the future begins now.

Best Case: 17ppg, 5rpg, 3apg...Most Improved Player? Makes us forget about Bonzi.
Worst Case: 12ppg, 4rpg, 3apg...Game does not explode, and fatigues as season goes on...Either way, development for next year is a good thing.

True Case: 20.2ppg, 4.3rpg, 2.2apg...I think I may have called it!

---Good young talent is always good to have...Maybe not as dominate and used as much as we would like, but I think that everything will come in due time...He will be an All-Star-esq player very soon.

Backup: John Salmons --- 25 million...We got him when we couldnt get Bonzi...Im biased against him for that too...Everything says he is a middle of the road, nothing special, nothing terrible player...But maybe that was just under Iverson...Maybe without AI holding him down he can live up to his 25 million dollars...Sadly, I dont see it...I think he is what he is, and we will not get what we paid for...We get a middle of the road role-player that will not tremedously help or hurt us.

Best Case: 9ppg, 3rpg, 3apg...Scores some more without AI, provides marginal help everywhere else.
Worst Case: 5ppg, 2apg, 2rpg...We paid 25 mil for this? Loses key PT to younger guys.

True Case: 8.5ppg, 3.3rpg, 3.2apg...I pretty much called it again.

---Came on later in the year, but was mostly on/off...And when he is off, he gives you nothing. When he is on he is pretty decent.

Small Forwards

Starter: Ron Artest --- Comes into his fisr full season with the Kings...In my mind, is the unquestioned leader of this team...His tremendous defense will rub off on everyone else, while his offense will come from all over the place, and will include a number of shots that make you slap yourself on the forehead and mutter "What in God's name is he thinking?" But he is Ron Artest...The Tru Warier is here, and we will be in for a fun ride.

Best Case: 20ppg, 5rpg, 4apg, 2spg...Leads by example.
Worst Case: 20ppg, 4rpg, 4apg, 2spg...Explodes.

True Case: 18.8ppg, 6.5rpg, 3.3apg, 2.1spg...Almost exploded...But didn't!

---A very interesting season from Ronny...Came out with the new ball and threw bricks for the next month+...Aftere the leather returned, all was right in Ron-Ron-Land and he played good ball...Still have the same knocks, and he had run-ins and he may have allegidly "Almost Exploded" but the truth was he didn't, and he is by far our team MVP.

Backup: Cisco Garcia --- What do we expect from Cisco? Optimistically, he has learned under Ron Artest, and can use his length and athleticism to play defense, block shots, and makes some steals...He will shoot with his feet set, and not be a first option...Pessimistically, he can be the same wildly incosistant player that can show up one day, then give you zero's across the board the next day...A bad summer showing makes you lean to the pessimism...Some good sprinkled between lots of mediocre and bad.

Best Case: 6ppg, 3rpg, 2apg...Contributes across the board, learns from Ron.
Worst Case: 3ppg, 2rpg, 2apg...Will he pan out?

True Case: 6.0ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.1apg...Came on strong, has a future!

---Up and down and up and down...Much like an internet stock was Cisco Garcia. Playing into and out of the doggyhouse all year, until eventually exploding onto the scene near the end, pretty much alwasy providing scoring, rebounding and constant effort and hustle.

Power Forwards

Starter: Kenny Thomas --- Honestly, I think there is no debate here...Kenny Thomas is the starter...He will provide you with a nightly near double-double, and his biggest strength is by far our biggest weakness...He is not nearly as bad as some of us tend to think...He is a role-player, and every successful team has some of those.

Best Case: 10ppg, 11rpg, 3apg...Double-double from the starter.
Worst Case: 6ppg, 7rpg, 1apg...Loses starting job, and becomes cancerous.

True Case: 5.3ppg, 6.1rpg, 1.2apg...BOO!

---HE sucked all year. The same can be said about all of our bigs.

Backup: Shareef Abdur-Rahim --- He didnt have a typical SAR season last year...Is he mearly a good player on a bad team, and just a marginal player on a good team? Hmm...He showed he can still score inside, and can be a pesky man-to-man defender, but he was not a game changer...His rebounding took a hit, and started looking Peje-esq at times...Thats not good from out starting power forward...If he can play sixth man with a smile on his face, he definatly has the ability to be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate.

Best Case: 14ppg, 7rpg, 2apg...Sixth Man consideration, rebounding improves.
Worse Case: 9ppg, 5rpg, 2apg...Did we sign a player on the downhill slide?

True Case: 9.9ppg, 5rpg, 1.1apg...BOO! (Im good)

---Downhill slide, didn't play consistantly well until the Kings were eliminated...Thank you SAR!

He's still here?: Corliss Williamson --- Who knows what he's going to provide this year...Maybe Musselman will find a use for his toughness inside? He seldom was used last year, but I think he seems like a Musselman type of player...Not decrepidly old, he could provide a nice spark, and honestly I happen to see that happening...Maybe not nightly, but for when the matchup calls for it.

Best Case: 7ppg, 2rpg, 1apg...Used in spurts, and provides energy.
Worst Case: 2ppg, 1rpg, 1apg...Seldom used...Cheerleading time! Traded by mid-season.

True Case: 9.1ppg, 3.3rpg, 0.6apg...He has gas left

---Muss used Ole Corliss, and he responded by showing he still has the scoring knack down low. Would love to have him back as a mentor, vetran contributor next year.

Centers

Starter: Brad Miller --- Say what you want about him, he is still one of the more reliable centers in the league, in terms of numbers...However, his biggest assest isnt what we need at all...Provides none interior defense, and his rebounding has managed to slip in years past...As he gets older, this trend will probably continue as he starts staying outside more and more...Hopefully something will wake him up this year, and he can come out and be the thuggish player he was in Indiana...Just maybe...

Best Case: 16ppg, 10rpg, 3apg...Stops being passive, and regains his thuggish Indiana roots.
Worst Case: 10ppg, 7rpg, 3apg...Shys away from offense, timid on the boards...His downhill slide?

True Case: 9.0ppg, 6.4rpg, 3.6apg...I'm eerily good!

---Brad was oft-injured, slow, unathletic, unable to jump/run/pass or shoot for a large portion of the year...He needs an athletic freak by him to be decent nowadays.

Just here because he has a contract: Vitaly Potopenko --- Honestly, I really see no playing time for him...Honestly, I dont see him playing...Hopefully traded by the start of the season.

Best Case: 2ppg, 3rpg, 0apg...Plays his heart out in garbage time.
Worst Case: N/A...Inactive all year.

True Case: 0.0ppg, 0.7rpg, 0.0apg...Played in all of two games and collected a rebound or two!

---Your money thats cleared will be greatly appreciated!

C: Justin Williams --- He can block shots...He can rebound...He is tall...He is an interior presense...He is someone that should make this team by default.

True Case: 5.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 0.1apg, 0.6bpg...Keep him!

--- Please keep him around! I really like the kid!


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And It is TDOS for the Kings...Hopefully a good off season and a good draft pick (Miracle bounce, ping-pong balls, I pray for thee!) will make me eager to write the review next season before opeing day.

 

[VF21]

Nice job, SLAB!

 

[Bricklayer]

You listed Corliss as a PF rather than C. Bad show.

 

[BawLa]

Nice job SLAB.

My one criticism is that the stats mean nothing without context. Justin Williams may have scored 5 ppg but that is in 12.8 min/game. He scored 18.8 points per 48 minutes so there are different ways to look at statistics. I think we can all agree that he began to improve his previously horrendous free throw shooting. He also scored points by cleaning up offensive boards and by jamming it down. Based on how he scored, under an Eric Musselman offense none-the-less, you could say that he scores incredibly efficiently for not needing the ball. That is exactly the type of offensive "filler" that we need.

Then defensively his stats look like this: 16.5 rebs/48 min and 2.3 blks/48 min.

He is obviously not going to play all the minutes during a game. But the future I see for this kid is bright. If he does not improve his game whatsoever, I could still see him contributing greatly off the bench. But with his kind of work ethic, I expect him to work hard in the offseason. I think he should focus on free throws, fouling less, and maybe learn a post move or two from someone like SAR. Then we would actually be getting our moneys-worth out of Reef.

 

[VF21]

I think he should focus on free throws, fouling less, and maybe learn a post move or two from someone like SAR. Then we would actually be getting our moneys-worth out of Reef.

I'm not so sure about the "fouling less" part. I rather enjoyed seeing someone defend the paint like it actually mattered for a change.

 

[BawLa]

I'm not so sure about the "fouling less" part. I rather enjoyed seeing someone defend the paint like it actually mattered for a change.

Well allow me to clarify. I too, enjoy the "hard" paint defense. But I just don't want him to take the dumb fouls because then he is on the floor less.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

True Case: 9.9ppg, 5rpg, 1.1apg...BOO! (Im good)

---Downhill slide, didn't play consistantly well until the Kings were eliminated...Thank you SAR!

Well, putting up gaudy numbers on lottery teams is what he does best...

 

[SLAB]

Well, putting up gaudy numbers on lottery teams is what he does best...

Twas' what was implied!

 

[Ryle]

Nice job SLAB.

My one criticism is that the stats mean nothing without context. Justin Williams may have scored 5 ppg but that is in 12.8 min/game. He scored 18.8 points per 48 minutes so there are different ways to look at statistics. I think we can all agree that he began to improve his previously horrendous free throw shooting. He also scored points by cleaning up offensive boards and by jamming it down. Based on how he scored, under an Eric Musselman offense none-the-less, you could say that he scores incredibly efficiently for not needing the ball. That is exactly the type of offensive "filler" that we need.

Then defensively his stats look like this: 16.5 rebs/48 min and 2.3 blks/48 min.

He is obviously not going to play all the minutes during a game. But the future I see for this kid is bright. If he does not improve his game whatsoever, I could still see him contributing greatly off the bench. But with his kind of work ethic, I expect him to work hard in the offseason. I think he should focus on free throws, fouling less, and maybe learn a post move or two from someone like SAR. Then we would actually be getting our moneys-worth out of Reef.

Can we please stop kneeling at the throne of Justin Williams now that the season is over?? Nice player and will be a nice BACK-UP for a few years but nothing more and he is not the answer to our problems in the middle. In limited minutes he is fine but if we are expecting major minutes from him we will be in hell again next year.

 

[VF21]

Can we please stop kneeling at the throne of Justin Williams now that the season is over?? Nice player and will be a nice BACK-UP for a few years but nothing more and he is not the answer to our problems in the middle. In limited minutes he is fine but if we are expecting major minutes from him we will be in hell again next year.

I don't think anyone has called him the answer to our problems. We are rightfully, however, impressed with what we've seen so far. He could be a nice addition to our youth movement AND a great spark of the bench. I can't see how you can fault his hustle and heart, and his ability to grab boards.

BawLa merely called him someone who, if he doesn't improve his skills, could still contribute off the bench. I certainly cannot disagree with that assessment.

And Williams was one of the few bright spots in the season. Why shouldn't people show some interest and enthusiasm?

 

[RaY Z]

I'm not so sure about the "fouling less" part. I rather enjoyed seeing someone defend the paint like it actually mattered for a change.

exactly... it be nice to have an opposing player be scared ****less to drive inside against the kings... lolz...

im sure justin will get bigger in the off season... and then we get noah or hibbert... awesome!

 

[Entity]

Can we please stop kneeling at the throne of Justin Williams now that the season is over?? Nice player and will be a nice BACK-UP for a few years but nothing more and he is not the answer to our problems in the middle. In limited minutes he is fine but if we are expecting major minutes from him we will be in hell again next year.

We are a team that needs alot of pieces. Justin Williams is one of those pieces. Quick, athletic, reboudning, shot blocker, willing to hustle and is he goes from floor to rim faster than anybody we played in the last 2 weeks. Definately not a starter but, this generations Keon Clark (could be). Who knows if he works as hard as Kevin did for 2 years could in fact be somebody. I am not going to sa never for the kid as he is in fact just a kid earned a chance lets give it to him.

 

[Ryle]

I don't think anyone has called him the answer to our problems. We are rightfully, however, impressed with what we've seen so far. He could be a nice addition to our youth movement AND a great spark of the bench. I can't see how you can fault his hustle and heart, and his ability to grab boards.

BawLa merely called him someone who, if he doesn't improve his skills, could still contribute off the bench. I certainly cannot disagree with that assessment.

And Williams was one of the few bright spots in the season. Why shouldn't people show some interest and enthusiasm?

You kind of made my point and it's not that I don't like him as he is the type of player we need. He's just not the full time answer in the middle but will be a nice back up for a few years. He's actually a shade under 6'9"(look up his pre-draft measurements) and needs to be upwards of about 235-240 to be able to play significant minutes in the middle.

 

[Superman]

Can we please stop kneeling at the throne of Justin Williams now that the season is over?? Nice player and will be a nice BACK-UP for a few years but nothing more and he is not the answer to our problems in the middle. In limited minutes he is fine but if we are expecting major minutes from him we will be in hell again next year.

He's the player we needed when we signed Keon Clark in '02 (who did fine for us), and when we signed Greg Ostertag in '03 (who did nothing). Athletic, long, bounces around, contests shots, fights for rebounds, 15-20 minutes a game.

Nope, he's not the answer for us in the middle, but he should be a good role player if we can build a good team within the next two or three years.