okay, Pqster, as you're inviting comment i will throw in my two cents....(this is from someone who cant see Kings games - only listens and reads....)
I didnt follow what KT was doing at the Sixers before he become a King, but since he's been in our team he has underwhelmed me. In short I dont think he has the ability to do an effective job at PF.
Origianally I thought the PF role was to score heavy, but Bricklayer sorted me out on that one a couple of seasons ago. An effective PF is distruptive to the opposition. If he's scoring then that fine, but if he isnt then he needs to be finding ways to help his teammates score.
You mention that you see KT doing things which dont show up in the box score - Im sure you are correct - but it doesnt seem to me that those things are enough.
Our PF doesnt need to be a superstar. It would be fine with me if we had an adequate role player PF. But the key attributes i think we need to see there are physical strength and skills. If a player is a little lacking in one then at NBA level he has to be able to compensate with the other. My concern is that i think KT is deficient in both.
Reading Bricks grades and the game notes from our opening games I am more concerned about the prospects for this unit than any Kings team since the time i started following them (2002/3).
I know Miller has his critics, but I've always thought he could hit the mid range jumper and that his potential offensive contibution made up for defensive weaknesses. Okay, he wasnt going to dish the assists like Vlade or swat the boards like Big Ben - but he could do a decent job for us at Centre. With Miller possible out or at least hampered with injury I do worry about how we fill that position.
Kevin Martin, Bibby and Artest are our three best (and credible) players in their postions. I count SAR as a guy who can give you decent minutes off the bench at PF (but not 'starter' quality). Salmons may turn out to be a useful utility player backing up Mike and filling in a bit at Centre. But it looks to me as though we are a couple of quality players short of where we need to be.
Hopefully I will be proved wrong, and the team will pull together but i cant say im ecouraged by the first three games. Maybe when we've played at home it will be better.
Go Kings!!