Why are the Kings so bad? What happened?

[kennadog]

-- this is how people learn most of the time. By screwing up.

Amen. Even if we don't want to admit it or....heck... even recall it.

 

[bajaden]

I think it's the ability of the Kings to turn once tough players to soft ones (ie. Brad Miller, KThomas, S.Dalembert, Landry, Nocioni?etc.) and the lack of Kings to develop talent. I don't know but our players seemed not to develop and bloom into their best potential. It's either they get injured and come back a different player (Cisco, Evans knock on wood) or just didn't get the chance to develop (ie. G.Wallace). I'm pretty sure had we gotten Rondo on draft day and not Douby, Rondo would have been out of the league by now. Landry and Cousins are playing pretty well but i still remember how Landry played back from Houston now i'm afraid he may turn out to be K.Thomas 2.0. Not to mention players that left Kings and have played well afterwards (G.Wallace, KMart).

I understand Kings are in re-build mode and have young players to build around but don't think Kings have that knack to develop them to the best of their potential. Peja i know Kings developed but turned out soft, i still remember Peja vs. Dirk comparison years before as if they were at the same caliber. Dirk is still going and still is a star, Peja now a back-up to Dirk's Mavs team or a filler to injured players.

Kings should try to emulate or learn from Suns or Spurs training coaches. Imagine R.Lopez in Kings he'd be soft as a tissue by now and ridiculed in the boards for sure, in Suns he is a presence and clogs the middle. Blair, Neal, Hill in Kings would be out of the league by now but are solid contributors in Spurs league leading record.

If I remember correctly Cousins almost fouled Lopez out of the game. By the way, Peja has had serious back problems now for the last few years, ala Larry Bird with his bad back. I don't remember anyone comparing Peja to Dirk. Peja was a SF and Dirk is a PF. I find it interesting that some people criticize Cousins for his scowls on the court. Projecting somewhat of a tough guy image. But some others criticize Peja for being a nice guy on the court, which has nothing to do with toughness. Peja had his weaknesses. He should have been a better rebounder. But he was a much better defender than he was given credit for. Adelman once said that Peja was one of the best defenders on the team. There's perception and there's reality..Sometimes they're the same thing. Sometimes they're not.

 

[Superman]

The comparisons were always more Webber/Dirk than Peja/Dirk, even though at the time, the latter was the more appropriate. If not for health, Peja may have continued as a 20+ ppg scorer and been a major contributor to some playoff teams. Couldn't get the back right. And then Dirk took off when Nash left and cemented himself an MVP quality player, right as Peja started to slide into the background as someone who couldn't be the #1. It looks silly now, and Dirk was always a better player, but the comparisons were there to be made.

As for Webber/Dirk, it just was never close with what they brought to the court. And had Webb been able to squeeze more out of his prime without blowing his knee up, he might have put a ring or two on his resume, and it just wouldn't even be a discussion. Dirk will have had the better career once all is said and done, but if you could choose between a healthy and prime Webb or Dirk, it's #4 all day.

 

[est.1999]

Peja was a pretty good one on one defender. In critical games in the playoffs I remember him getting some huge stops. And one was against dirk in '04 I think.

 

[Lafayette]

No real legit SMALL FORWARD that can carry the load on both ends is hurting this team. They have good big men and gaurds but that 3 spot is crucial and it's just horrible that you have a coach that plays musical chairs with that position but then again he has to because he has inconsistent players at that spot. One that thinks he's Peja but tougher and one that is lazy, shoots crap shots and doesn't realize that he's 6'11 and skilled, time to trade and downsize the POTENTIAL talent for real talent.

 

[Spike]

No real legit SMALL FORWARD that can carry the load on both ends is hurting this team. They have good big men and gaurds but that 3 spot is crucial and it's just horrible that you have a coach that plays musical chairs with that position but then again he has to because he has inconsistent players at that spot. One that thinks he's Peja but tougher and one that is lazy, shoots crap shots and doesn't realize that he's 6'11 and skilled, time to trade and downsize the POTENTIAL talent for real talent.

Why take a marshmallow now when you can have two tomorrow?

 

[Bricklayer]

The comparisons were always more Webber/Dirk than Peja/Dirk, even though at the time, the latter was the more appropriate. If not for health, Peja may have continued as a 20+ ppg scorer and been a major contributor to some playoff teams. Couldn't get the back right. And then Dirk took off when Nash left and cemented himself an MVP quality player, right as Peja started to slide into the background as someone who couldn't be the #1. It looks silly now, and Dirk was always a better player, but the comparisons were there to be made.

As for Webber/Dirk, it just was never close with what they brought to the court. And had Webb been able to squeeze more out of his prime without blowing his knee up, he might have put a ring or two on his resume, and it just wouldn't even be a discussion. Dirk will have had the better career once all is said and done, but if you could choose between a healthy and prime Webb or Dirk, it's #4 all day.

Actually I have been here long enough that I do remember the Peja Dirk discussions circa 2001-2004 or so.

Those were mostly started by Peja partisans of course, but the irresistible pull of "tall Euro shooter" made even people who should have known better get involved at times.

 

[Lockehead]

Is it odd that i dont see Tyreke having any on-court chemistry with anyone else on our team? Im not talking about personalities here. Im talking about performance and presence on the basketball court. Seeing how Tyreke is going to be our future star, this may be a bigger problem than its given credit for.