If you had thirty seconds to decide on trading Miller for Marion, would you do it?   Is Marion a competitor who would make the Kings better?   Is anyone for Brad Miller an improvement?   If Marion walks at the end of the year, is it still a good trade? 

I know I said it here before, but if I was Petrie, I would pull that trigger before Pat Riley said the final syllable in Sean's last name.   "Uh, Pat?"   He would say.... "You had me at hello!"

I don't think he solves all of the King's problems, but it would be a good start and send a message to the rest of the vets that it is time to start competing!   At this point, change is good!

Bobby Jackson:   What's wrong w'chu, Brad? 

Brad Miller:   What are you talking about?

Jackson:  What am I talkin' about?  What am I talking about?  Let me refresh your memory, before you take a shower!  

I'm talking about how we were playing four on five out there, dude, and you were driftin' around checkin' out da ladies behind the scorer's table. 

Cisco:   Hell, yeah, dude!  Do that on your own time, man.  I mean, why you lettin' us down like that, man?   What's all that about, man?

Miller:  Uh, whatever, guys!   I had a bad game, okay?   I mean, it's not like you never had a bad game, Bobby!   You too, Cisco.   Get off my back!

Cisco (getting animated now):  Oh, no!   You did not just go there!

Hawes comes out of the shower and slams his towel against the lockers.  Moore is in the showers still, singing a Marvin' Gaye tune.

Miller (slightly less defensive now):  Look, guys, I know I sucked out there.  I just didn't have it.  Maybe I have a bladder infection or something, and I didn't want to tell anyone, because, you know, it's embarrassing!

He throws his headband on the ground.

Miller:  I mean, it's not like I can just take myself out of the game!   Ask Coach what the hell he was doing playing me in the third quarter, you know?   Talk to him, ask him what the deal is!!!!!

Suddenly the cell phone rings and Miller answers it:   Uh,hi Chris.  This really isn't the best time right now....

CWebb:   Dude!   I just saw that trainwreck you guys called a game, man, and you're blowing it, man!   You better play better than that, bro, cause you're making our team look real bad out there....

Miller:  Get off my back, Chris!   I mean, it's not like you didn't screw up trying to be the man, coming back too early and blowing our year....

Jackson:   Shut up, Brad!   That was on Coach Adelman and you know it!   And it doesn't matter anyway, cause we're not livin' in the past here.   I mean, we're trying to win now, baby!

Udrih gets dressed, singing along with some traditional folk song playing on his iPod, oblivious to everything.....

KMart snaps his wet towel on Miller's left buttcheek.  

Miller:  Hey!  Watch it, Blue Light Special!

KMart:  If you ever embarrass us again like that, we're gonna have some problems. Seriously, Brad.  Seriously!

Miller: Sorry, Kevin.   I mean I know you are the Man now, but I think the time to start taking over the leadership reins begins on the court, dude.   But, whatever.   Look, we all know I will have a different zip code in a few weeks, anyway, so who cares?  

Miller (looking around at everyone now):  Helloooooo!   Newsflash, everyone!   Haven't you been reading the Bee?   Weeeeeeee Suuuuucccccckkkkk!  We can all take a night off, so whatever!  Tomorrow night, it can be your turn!

Turns away, thinking:  This is so not going the way I planned.   This season, whew!!!!!

(The above conversation may or may or not have happened.   Hopefully, some version of it actually did happen!)

I have changed my mind about the Kings, after hearing the latest insights from Carrill and Petrie ala Sam Amick's article today, as well as the general, unspoken things that everyone has been skirting around for months....

I was thinking they just need time, more time, it takes time to learn to play, etc, but I think this team, currently assembled, is just lacking the chemistry to play hard and compete.  Okay I know that isn't a newsflash, but the bottom line is, everyone on the team is just way too comfortable losing, and even losing badly, and with players paid as much as they are, and their fragile egos, etc, no one can send a real message to them despite the loud hints and everything...

Remember Jerry McGuire, the movie?   Think of how that agent, Jerry, had to skirt around and around and around the whole ego of Cuba Gooding Jr., before coming right out and saying what needed to be said.

Anyway, knowing that things aren't getting through, I think we should blow up the team, if we are going to lose and lose big, night in and night out.   (Nuggets game notwithstanding).   

So what I am saying is, it is okay with me if they trade anyone, if they get something back in return.   Not just some stupid cap space that we may or may not get to sign someone to some ridiculous contract of obscene money to come here to underperform.   I say, no one is untouchable, and let's trade four or five players, hell, maybe even six or seven, if we can get good value.

This will send a message that losing the way we have been is unacceptable, and invigorate the team with fresh blood, and maybe get some decent defensive players too, for Natt to build with...

So, am I crazy?   Are any of you thinking the same thing?   I still say Marion would be a good start, but who knows?  At this point, I don't even care.   I mean, don't get me wrong.  I like our Kings players and hope they all do well, and show some heart and winning spirit, but sometimes we all need a change to get us going again.... 

I think the trade talk will be heating up in the coming days, so I wanted to ask you all intelligent kings fans about the top three stars that have a realistic chance of being in a King's uniform by the trade deadline.

I am thinking one scenario is Shawn Marion.  I personally don't know why we would do this, as he is a free agent at the end of the year, and then if we don't resign, our value just walks.   But Marion is a damn good player and he brings a defensive presence who would team well with Hawes/JT.    A lot would depend on whether or not the Maloofs would open up the checkbook to resign him at the new Economy value, but we could make an offer.

Marion is a legit star who would pair well with the Kings, including Martin.  He also is a star waiting to shine, so hopefully he would get his chance to make this team good again.....   (Although he is trying to do that with the Heat now, so coming to Sac wouldn't make him too happy, I'm thinking).

Door number 2 would be tougher.  We definitely need a point guard, and we would have to give up someone good to get someone good, so this might be one of those trades where you don't really get better on all levels.   So, are you ready for.....   Andre Miller?  

I know, I know.   He is a Sixer, and most of our trades wtih Philly have been busts, but it is worth a shot.   Miller can play, and he is in a contract year too, I think. Don't know who we would lose to get him, and he might not be a good fit with this team, but he can drop some dimes, which is something our current point guards seem particularly challenged night in and night out....

And door number 3, you ask?   Well, how about Tayshaun Prince?   He would boost our defensive presence and he also has been getting some assists as well as scoring, and it would send a message to the team that defense is important.  I know it would never happen in the Petrie world, where offense rules, but it is a dream!  

Alternate list:   Antawn Jamison.    That dude can play, and the Wizards aren't going anywhere this year, so maybe they would be willing to part with him for rebuilding's sake, and the right deal.

Okay, so all of this is just conjecture, and only half of the trade equation, but I just thought I would put it out there.....

Go Kings!

Okay, so I pretty much had resigned myself to not seeing the Kings on any national TV this year, except for the chance that the Clippers might show them on KTLA, which I get with Dish Network, or maybe Boston or Chicago, when they come through there....   But what's this?   I see they are being shown on NBATV, the Knicks and Kings!   Yes!  

For a few moments, I was totally elated.   I missed the first couple of minutes, because my wife wanted to finish watching her Christmas show, so, whatever, no big deal!   Except when I turn back the channel, we are down like, sixteen points, in something like seven minutes....   WTF?

My wife goes to bed, and I watch the rest of the game.   I can't believe it.    I am just stunned.

Uncontested layups.   Players left wide open on the wing, on the top of the key, well, pretty much everywhere....   Are they playing man to man defense?   Or is it zone?   Or is it something in between, like, maybe I will be asked to help defend someone's man, so I better sag off my own guy so I can help when Robinson or Duhon fly past the defender and get into the paint....  

I can't believe what I am seeing.    Has this been going on all season?   This bad?   I mean, is this really the Kings?

The announcers on NBATV are just as speechless.   What can they say?   There is just nothing you can say, really.   They just ended up shaking their heads and questioning their manhood, you know?   They were happy when the Kings made the third quarter run, just to sort of hope the Kings were back in the ballgame, but no, it was an effort mirage.   It faded away quickly.

They didn't show any closeups of the Maloofs, or Petrie, but that is probably for the better.  And they didn't even show much of Theus, either, except when he was leaving, head down, off the court.  

I like Reggie, and I want him to take this team and turn it around.   I want to believe in the offense, too.   But man, there was no offense, really.   It was run down, shoot a three, and any ball movement looked totally confusing to the Kings themselves, not to mention totally ineffective.   It looked like a bunch of volleyball players out there, attempting to play basketball.   Not good.

I didn't realize that it was this bad.   That the team was this bad.   Is there anyone who can tell me what happened to this team?   Is there something wrong with the water or Gatorade?   Is it really that they hate Theus?   Is it something else?   Are they all just bad players?   What, what what?

Well, I guess we should all welcome our new coach, whoever he is, with open arms and hope to high heaven that he can get these guys going in some kind of direction.   Because it can't get much worse than this.   Can it?

Bye, Reggie.   We hardly knew ya.   Enjoy your paychecks for the next six months!  It might not be your fault, really, but we will never really know what happened in that locker room all season.    So much for the Uptempo offense.   So much for the defensive focus....   I guess Natomas is where my basketball dreams are going to die, like Tower Records or Merlinos.   Damn.

Okay, I think all of the media and some outspoken fans need to settle down about the micro-management of teams losses and issues.   Dudes, there are so many issues on a team this young!   On a team with this many young guys, and a few vets who are struggling to find their own cohesiveness, and you add a young, inexperienced coach, what else did you think was going to happen?

Sometimes this stuff does magically come together.   Like in New Jersey, when Lawrence Frank took over, they headed to the Eastern Conference Finals.   But they also had a superstar in Jason Kidd, and a serious slasher Jefferson, and (damn, was Eddie House on that team?) and a few other great players in their prime.   And they were playing in the East, at a time when the East was cake, basically.

We all know that these players have talent, but it really does take time to develop and get used to the NBA game.   Most of the younger players have had the experience of being the best player on the teams they played in highschool, or college, and scoring at will over less talented players, etc.   Then they fast forward to the NBA, where they are average, talent wise, where everyone is just as fast, intense, athletic, etc, and it takes a while to adjust to it.   Compound that with the intense schedule, lack of real practice time, rest and planning (like in college) and you have some big adjustments headed your way.   Not to mention the fact that you are suddenly a millionaire...

It takes time to build confidence playing at this level.   Look at our best teams of recent years:   They almost all had some serious experience in the league already, having played for a number of coaches and teams, figured out the refs, a personal schedule that works, how to work with coaches, etc, and when they got to Sac, one way or another, they found a way to make it special.

What other team, other than the Kings, have affected the League in the same way, igniting excitement, passion, fun and joy in the game of basketball?   You can argue the Celtics last year, but it wasn't the same.   The Warriors play in '07 was exciting, and the Suns had some good runs too, but it didn't feel anything close to the same level as the Kings run....  

The bottom line is, it sucks to lose, and it is easy to want to blame someone for the loss.   The refs stole the game.   So and so didn't play D, or missed some easy shots, or the Coach didn't call timeout, whatever.   But I think that we just have to keep our eyes on the little things that are encouraging, each game, and hang onto that, and build on those positives, and don't worry about the rumors, etc.   

I wouldn't be so quick to get rid of the veterans, though.   The youngsters don't need that much pressure all on their shoulders, every game.   If they have too much pressure, too quickly, it can really mess with your head, so we need the veterans to balance and moderate the game, help hold the team together, etc.

It sucks that KT is on the bench and can't play or contribute, or that Greene and Williams have trouble getting off the bench, but it's a long season and their chances will come.   In the meantime, I think we just need time to trust that Geoff is doing everything he can to win, that Reggie is working as hard as he can to help the team develop and find a way to win.   Everyone is really trying to win, and it isn't easy, but the most important thing about the Kings was their passionate fans, and that they love and support their team.   Arco used to be a place where road teams feared to tread, and the home crowd was fun to play for.   Now, it seems like it sucks.   

I wish I live close enough to see the games, or come to the arena if I could.   I would just love to see them all developing in person.   All of this Fire Theus Now stuff just is sad.   No one is going to win with this team instantly, so what the heck, let's just let him run with it and see what he can do with another month or two.    Besides, I doubt the Maloofs are going to pony up Avery Johnson type money, for several years guarrateed, while they are still paying Eric and Reggie too.    Anyway, I hope that I haven't offended anyone with my strong opinions, but I really get annoyed and depressed reading the super critical SacBee community bashing every article.   Of course, I have done my share of venting at times, but mostly I save it for bad reporting or lame stories, not our Kings players....

Go Kings!

This is my first time posting on this blog, and I have enjoyed reading the entries and submissions here for a while now.   I wanted to just say that there are a lot of opinions about sports in general that make it one of the most studied, talked about, opinionated and passionate subjects available today, and the Kings are no exception.   On thing I will say though, is that despite all of the hysteria around Ron, or KT or whoever the latest drama is spinning around, the main thing that I try to keep in mind is that I love basketball.   I know Geoff Petrie loves basketball.   I know the Maloofs love basketball, and I know that NBA players love basketball, and playing at the highest level available on the planet.     

I try not to get too political about the details and when I could get games on TV, it has driven me crazy because I never got to see the younger players get any time.    Don't get me wrong.   I love watching the big stars too, but there is something about watching a few younger players break out and make some awesome plays and see their growth happen right in front of our eyes, just like the team did a few years ago, when Jason, Chris, Vlade, Jon, Peja and Scot began to mesh and flow....   Man, there is nothing like it!

This season is a lot like the first season that the Kings began to grow into an exciting team, when they took the Jazz to five games and played their hearts out.   I totally am hoping that we will see something like that emergence, where these young players, veterans, sophomores and coaches can put something together that will make people excited to see the game.

I don't know if it will happen.   They could all sink down into the blame game if they hit some rough patches.   But if they play loose, if they play hard and if they are reminded that the fans come because it is fun and it is about the game, and the love of the game, well, I might even shell out the cash for my stupid satellite dish to let me see my team play!

On another note, is it just me or is the Bee having some sort of identity crisis/meltdown around the Kings reporting?    Scott Howard Cooper seems to be pretty transparent lately with the tone of his articles and attitude, which sucks because I used to look forward to his stuff a few months ago.   And since when is the Bee attached to the Ron-Ron publicity cow to the extent that they are sharing DNA?   Bottom line is, I hate the off season and yet, this one in particular, seems especially lame.    Maybe the Bee is just trying to sell some papers, so whatever, but it is a drag.

Anyway, I look forward to being part of the Kings community and hope for a great season this year!