The Kings are Blowing It...

[Kingster]

...They're winning. Winning is bad. Losing is good. Losing forces Petrie to "blow up the clown". Winning allows him to continue the delusion that by tinkering one-piece-at-a-time, he'll be able get us back as a championship contender. If a .500 team is the goal, winning will work. You'll have a .500 team for as far as you can imagine, with Petrie just tinkering enough to keep up our hopes for that 8th playoff spot. But if you believe in buidling for a championship, we're doing just the opposite. I'm all for losing - losing by playing the young guys, getting rid of the "old" guys, accumulating high draft picks, and picking up young, raw athletic talents that may be a couple years away from doing something big.

The only way that winning now is a good thing is if Petrie trades Bibby, Artest, and Miller *now* when they are playing their best basketball of the season. Buy low, sell high. Sell when the masses and maybe other GMs get excited about having these players. This may be Petrie's last chance...

 

[nbrans]

I don't think it's Petrie's decision that is being made here. There's a ton of revenue in those playoff tickets, and let's just say I don't think that money goes to Petrie. But I agree, they're blowing it.

 

[SacKings384]

What do you expect the players to do? They are paid to go out there and win. They are competitors. If we want a very high pick the management needs to make it so that they can't win even if thay are trying their hardest. Until then you can't blame this group for going out there and doing their best to win.

 

[Jechtsphere]

They aren't blowing it because it's already been blown lol.

 

[Bricklayer]

This is a tough situation.

You are absolutely correct that this is kind of a worst case scenario, and why we should have blown the team up earlier than later. Still enough quality vets on this team to get wins here and there over weaker or wounded teams. Just leave them alone and they will get you into the absolute LAST place any NBA team should ever want to be -- the 35 to 40 win position. That's the epitome of no hope.

On the other hand the players themselves are doing what they are supposed to do, find a way to beat lower tier teams from time to time and soldier on. Not give up etc. If they weren't so completely irrelevant and 2/3 of them weren't going to be ex-Kings in about 3 months, you would even say good show. But they are, and so this is not a welcome development.

The problem lies in the front office though. That is where they should know everything I just typed, but show no signs of doing so. They are lingering, taking no action, and in the process dooming their team, and to the degree the fanbase continues its erosion, maybe the whole Sacto era franchise. The players just play. They are the worst iteration of a Kings team in a decade, but all they can do is play. The strategic decisions, the moves that would, should, and could have been made to this point, all of that lands in the front office somewhere. Whether its Geoff falling asleep, the Maloofs throwing tantrums, or Chuckles the Hick having resumed his GM duties.

 

[G_M]

I think the BAD teams are REALLY BAD. Even with wholesale player changes, going "young" etc... it may be hard to "outbad" them.

It really is a matter at this point of competing with those other 18-21 win teams for the 4-9 spot. Given the Kings schedule there's still plenty of room for optimism about the Kings being bad......

 

[hrdboild]

It really wouldn't be that hard to "outbad" most of the teams in the league. Granted Memphis and Boston are most likely out of reach. Memphis has been playing better with Gasol back, but he might be traded in a couple of weeks. Boston should improve when Pierce returns, especially playing against weaker Eastern conference opponents, but that 14 game losing streak pretty much put them out of reach. Philly will probably be third. They've already gone into full rebuild mode. But fourth is not out of the question for the Kings. Seattle should get a lot better with Rashard Lewis returning. Ditto Milwaukee and Michael Redd. That leaves Charlotte and Atlanta as the wild cards. Both are up and down teams, so who knows what happens. I think realistically, fourth is our best-case scenario in terms of lottery positioning, which leaves us an outside shot at the top 2, followed by one of Joakim Noah, Brandon Wright, or Al Horford. Any of those players would help us a lot.

 

[Kingster]

What do you expect the players to do? They are paid to go out there and win. They are competitors. If we want a very high pick the management needs to make it so that they can't win even if thay are trying their hardest. Until then you can't blame this group for going out there and doing their best to win.

Believe me, I want every player on the floor to play the best basketball they can possibly play in every single game that they play. I just don't want the same basketball players that we currently have.

 

[Kingster]

This is a tough situation.
The problem lies in the front office though. That is where they should know everything I just typed, but show no signs of doing so. They are lingering, taking no action, and in the process dooming their team, and to the degree the fanbase continues its erosion, maybe the whole Sacto era franchise. The players just play. They are the worst iteration of a Kings team in a decade, but all they can do is play. The strategic decisions, the moves that would, should, and could have been made to this point, all of that lands in the front office somewhere. Whether its Geoff falling asleep, the Maloofs throwing tantrums, or Chuckles the Hick having resumed his GM duties.

I don't bear any ill-will to any of the current players and I want them all to play their best every game. I just want Petrie to finally say, "UNCLE!!" and get on with the rebuilding. I think we're in agreement on that.

 

[kennadog]

Philly will probably be third. They've already gone into full rebuild mode.

That is the crux of the "tank" argument. I don't expect the guys on our team to not try to win games. I just believe we should do something akin to what the 76ers have done. Start making moves to position us for the future. The sooner the better.

Maybe the 76ers would've won a few more games with AI and Webber than without, but it would have have been a short term satisfaction at the expense of the long-term good of the team. They didn't ask AI and Webber to deliberately lose games or any other player. They just made moves that probably will cost them more losses this season.

Personally, I'll be more than a little disappointed if the trade deadline passes with no significant moves by the Kings. (Altho, I do realize that the Kings have to find willling partners for a deal.)

 

[uopmatt]

I think we are blowing it big time. I'm telling you, this kid durant is the best kid I've ever seen in college basketball. Can you honestly think of someone better than him that you've seen in the last 10-15 years. I can't. I know the chances would still be slim of getting him even with the worst record, but i'm willing to take those chances. This kid has hall of fame written all over him

 

[quick dog]

By winning games the Kings MAY be reducing their opportunity to catch a great player in the draft, but maybe not. It is still a matter of probability. By playing better, perhaps the players will have slightly higher trade-values. So perhaps we gain a little there. Regardless, they can not try to lose.

 

[Vlade4GM]

By winning games the Kings MAY be reducing their opportunity to catch a great player in the draft, but maybe not. It is still a matter of probability. By playing better, perhaps the players will have slightly higher trade-values. So perhaps we gain a little there. Regardless, they can not try to lose.

Well that's fine IF they actually pull off a trade or two by the deadline, but I don't think that's happening. I really hope that at least Artest is traded by the deadline and we get another pick, it would be awesome if both Bibby and him were traded.

 

[acisking]

By winning games the Kings MAY be reducing their opportunity to catch a great player in the draft, but maybe not. It is still a matter of probability. By playing better, perhaps the players will have slightly higher trade-values. So perhaps we gain a little there. Regardless, they can not try to lose.

Which is why, as many posters have already pointed out, the only real option is for the management to really try to rebuild. If they wre to trade our vets and sulkers for cap room, picks, or more youth....we could both compete every night and give our young guys experience all while making a move for the lottery.

 

[tjobrien]

I think we are blowing it big time. I'm telling you, this kid durant is the best kid I've ever seen in college basketball. Can you honestly think of someone better than him that you've seen in the last 10-15 years. I can't. I know the chances would still be slim of getting him even with the worst record, but i'm willing to take those chances. This kid has hall of fame written all over him

Well, it's hard to say. College basketball has a lot less talent than it did 15 years ago. Even 10 years ago. Guys like Jason Kidd, Laettner, Grant Hill, Camby, Duncan, etc. were all just as good in college basketball, if not better. Lebron would have been way better. But Durant is playing against much weaker competition than those guys had. I'm not ready to call him the next player in the GOAT discussion as others seem to be.

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

I dont care what your excuse is, a fan of a team they love and support NEVER cheer for them to lose...

Im sure im gonna get hit with the standard we need to get a superstar in the draft ... but at this point there is a half as season left i dont want to hear about the draft until we are knocked out of the playoff contention, playoff's itself or after winning the title.

 

[Bricklayer]

I dont care what your excuse is, a fan of a team they love and support NEVER cheer for them to lose...

Im sure im gonna get hit with the standard we need to get a superstar in the draft ... but at this point there is a half as season left i dont want to hear about the draft until we are knocked out of the playoff contention, playoff's itself or after winning the title.

Frankly, what you do or do not want to hear is just tough. You're going to hear it from people with the vision to see beyond the end of their nose.

 

[ImAKing]

i only cheer for them to lose if they are WAY out of the playoff picture. if youre not in the PO, winning those extra games will only push them back ifrom the lottery. but since they are no where out of the playoff race yet(2-3 games behind), i will cheer for them to win.

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

Frankly, what you do or do not want to hear is just tough. You're going to hear it from people with the vision to see beyond the end of their nose.

Which is what ? Just alot of wishing and praying, that we LUCKY enough to get the #1 pick in a draft that is lottery based, and we are LUCKY enough if the player we want declares and if we are LUCKY enough if hes not a bust, and at the end we are at step one trying to make a run at the title, you can put your eggs in one basket, which is what alot of people are doing , i mean the thought is becoming that losing = winning a title in the future.

 

[Vlade4GM]

I dont care what your excuse is, a fan of a team they love and support NEVER cheer for them to lose...

Im sure im gonna get hit with the standard we need to get a superstar in the draft ... but at this point there is a half as season left i dont want to hear about the draft until we are knocked out of the playoff contention, playoff's itself or after winning the title.

who are you to say who is and isn't a true fan? i want losses and i feel that's best for the team, i think a first round exit in the playoffs (which is the absolute best this team could possibly do) is the worst possible thing that can happen to this team. if you don't want to hear about the draft or about people wanting losses and a complete rebuild then leave because i know others won't stop saying their opinions to please the likes of you and i know i sure as hell won't.

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

who are you to say who is and isn't a true fan? i want losses and i feel that's best for the team, i think a first round exit in the playoffs (which is the absolute best this team could possibly do) is the worst possible thing that can happen to this team. if you don't want to hear about the draft or about people wanting losses and a complete rebuild then leave because i know others won't stop saying their opinions to please the likes of you and i know i sure as hell won't. so deal with that.

Hey i agree with you, me too...

 

[fnordius]

Which is what ? Just alot of wishing and praying, that we LUCKY enough to get the #1 pick

Not at all, catch up on the personnel threads. #3-#5 would be fantastic in the upcoming, DEEP draft - a franchise player. We were in line for pick #7 four games ago, which would definitely land us a very solid starter, but are now headed for pick #11 (if we continue at 43% wins), which is much less likely to get us far. If we even get close to making the playoffs (pick #16-17), we will be very, very lucky to draft anything more than a benchwarmer.

 

[VF21]

I'm gonna remind people ONCE more that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. This whole "true fan" concept is baloney, pure and simple. We're all fans here. We wouldn't be here otherwise.

If your opinion differs from someone else, fine. State it. But PLEASE leave the judgmental crap out of it.

And the "so deal with it" comments can be left out, too.

Thank you...

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

Not at all, catch up on the personnel threads. #3-#5 would be fantastic in the upcoming, DEEP draft - a franchise player. We were in line for pick #7 four games ago, which would definitely land us a very solid starter, but are now headed for pick #11 (if we continue at 43% wins), which is much less likely to get us far. If we even get close to making the playoffs (pick #16-17), we will be very, very lucky to draft anything more than a benchwarmer.

And really in the end all it comes out to is, some old guy picking balls out of a machine, with our luck we could have the worst record and end up with the 14th pick in the draft ... Its really all speculation at this point.

 

[Vlade4GM]

And really in the end all it comes out to is, some old guy picking balls out of a machine, with our luck we could have the worst record and end up with the 14th pick in the draft ... Its really all speculation at this point.

actually no, the lottery doesn't work that way. the lowest draft position the worst record could be is 4th.

 

[GoGoGadget]

I dont care what your excuse is, a fan of a team they love and support NEVER cheer for them to lose...

Im sure im gonna get hit with the standard we need to get a superstar in the draft ... but at this point there is a half as season left i dont want to hear about the draft until we are knocked out of the playoff contention, playoff's itself or after winning the title.

For the umpteenth time, there is a Brobdingnagian difference between "cheering" for losses, and realizing that they may actually be the best way for your team to improve.

I did not, in fact, hunker down in front of the telly this evening with the hopes of watching the Kings twiddle their thumbs and suck their way closer to the lottery. I do not enjoy watching them lose. But, at the same time, driving home and hearing the local radio persons jump all over themselves because we're now only two games out of that #7 spot gave me a sick feeling knot in the pit of my stomach that still hasn't quite gone away.


Now that I've gotten that out, feel free to stick your fingers back in your ears.

 

[kennadog]

For the umpteenth time, there is a Brobdingnagian difference between "cheering" for losses, and realizing that they may actually be the best way for your team to improve.

Apparently saying that a gazillion times doesn't help some people understand it any better.

IF we make it to the playoffs, it likely we would be the 8th spot, altho a miracle might get us to seven. Sorry, but I don't get excited about getting blown out as first round fodder while listening to everyone and his cousin talking on national TV about how bad we are.

And the worst part of it is that there is absolutely no consolation prize. Its a lose/lose. Be a first round patsy and don't get a decent draft pick for your misery. Stuck in mediocre nowhere land with less chance to get significantly better, than the chance you might have with a good draft pick. (Notice that I said chance, not ironclad guarantee.)

Getting into those lower slots in the PO's is exciting if you have a team on the way up. In the big picture, this team is on the down escalator.

 

[fnordius]

But, at the same time, driving home and hearing the local radio persons jump all over themselves because we're now only two games out of that #7 spot gave me a sick feeling knot in the pit of my stomach that still hasn't quite gone away.

7th and 8th are currently tied, but to get into 7th we'd presumably have to do better than either of those teams, because we have worse division and conference records.

They are tied at 49%, so we'd need to go at least 41-41 to make it (assuming none of the lower teams improve at all).

We are now 21-26, so we'd have to go at least 20-15 to have a shot at getting swept out of the first round by the Mavs or the Suns. To get into 4th place and have HCA in even one round, we'd have to go 34-1, which would be unprecedented in NBA history.

Yes, it's like watching someone jump off a skyscraper in the hope that just maybe they can fly.

Ten more wins and I will stop paying attention. It's too painful, and the games are mostly no fun to watch anyway.

 

[Bricklayer]

Ten more wins and I will stop paying attention. It's too painful, and the games are mostly no fun to watch anyway.

I have Feb. 22nd circled myself (trade deadline). Will know then what we have in mind, and whether it will be remotely worth my time committment to continue watching or not. Mentioned before, there are a lot of fun and interesting stories around the league right now. No reason I can see to torture yourself.

 

[BMiller52]

I have Feb. 22nd circled myself (trade deadline). Will know then what we have in mind, and whether it will be remotely worth my time committment to continue watching or not. Mentioned before, there are a lot of fun and interesting stories around the league right now. No reason I can see to torture yourself.

We are going to make a trade, I hope...