My Grade ... "P"

Kingspin — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:55:19 -0000

I can envision the title of Jerry Reynold's next book chronicling this mini era of Kings hoops, "From Musselwoman to Theus," cautionary tales of charlatans at the helm.

My grade for Theus, aka "The Theusocracy," is a well-earned "P," for 'phony.'

Until the inevitable conclusion of a season sans playoffs, Reggie consistently and arbitrarily chose expediency over development, wins now that mortgaged a potentially more viable future.

Granted, Reg navigated, er, manipulated a course that meandered through injuries, a seven-game league-induced suspension, and a big trade to deliver 38 victories .... but at what cost I ask.

This team won because of talent, not as a result of some magical "kavorka" infused by the Theusocracy. Dangerously, he chose age over beauty, NBA tenure over tenacity.

His goal was simply to surpass Musselwoman's tally last year, a gameplan void of prescient foresight and any semblace of an understanding of the future.

Cases in point: the guy shat on Douby's confidence all season and when the kid finally garnered 30+ minutes, he notched 32 points vs. an LA team needing a win to earn home court advantage.

We beat New Orleans on the 14th, but at what price? Hawes was blossoming to end the season, yet sat the final 11 1/2 minutes of that contest. Why not leave the kid out there and gain invaluable experience in a tight game?

The laundry list of such offenses can't be cited in one blog. And I just ate lunch, and choose not to rent my food so I'll end here.

The guy artificially raised expectations for next season, a season where we'll need a skipper that has the skills to adroitly nurture young talent (we have three draft picks), not a hedonist that continually mocks the notion of delayed gratification.

SB Nation Blog: Kingspin

My Grade ... "P"