SB Nation User Blog: kingme18

Looking Ahead: These Kings are for Real

kingme18 — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:23:07 -0000

I think these Kings can do great things this season. Yes they can make the playoffs in the West, I'm certainly not going to guarantee that they will but the defensive improvement has been outstanding and that's the key. Yes, they're just 23rd according to number but those numbers are a fluke. I think we definitely should be in the middle of the pack in terms of defensive numbers.

Yes, people are going to harp that when the Kings get Bibby back, they'll be even better. I, for one strongly disagree with that notion. Beno is doing his job and doing it at a way that I feel is very satisfying and should keep his job as the team's starting point guard. I, see Bibby as a valuable trade chip for the Kings. If the Kings can get another teens or even early 20 pick and a power forward, I would be absolutely ecstatic by the prospect of the team.

This team is playing at a level that I don't think anyone could have imagined the turnaround. Reggie Theus has instilled a sense of discipline. The Kings are doing exactly what they're supposed to do.

I'm sorry, folks, but the Mike Bibby era is O-V-E-R. I just don't see where he fits in to this team in the present nor the future.

The Kiss Me Kings

kingme18 — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:18:55 -0000

During the end of the third quarter, the kiss-me cam was on at the Verizon Center, only at the end did the Kiss-Me Cam feature John Salmons and Justin Williams. The camera was there for awhile only for Salmons to move aside like a girl turning down a guy. That then followed with Justin Williams being next to Quincy Douby, and then looking up at the cam and giggling like a girl when he saw that the kiss-me camera had him and 3 Will on it.

The Curse Continues

kingme18 — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 04:19:25 -0000

For some reason every time I visit the Verizon Center, the teams I want to win loses:

2003-2004: Against an awful Wizards squad, Kwame Brown drops 30 points and grabs 19 rebounds as the Wizards pull off the upset of their season, 114-108.
2005-2006: Ron Artest recently dealt to Sacramento, the Kings were starting to turn it around after beginning the year playing just awful basketball. The Kings miss so many free throws and the Kings fall 107-117.

I just don't get it:

Tonight, other than an inspired 2nd quarter rally after trailing by 9 and cutting it to 1, the Kings come out at the 2nd half and just completely fall apart:

Deshawn Stevenson repeatedly hit three pointers
Kings turnover fest began
John, Beno, Mikki all played without energy and just didn't have it.
Kings continue to settle for three pointers
Brad gets completely overwhelmed by Brendan Haywood and gets T'd up.
Spencer Hawes and Quincy Douby, other than an aggressive dunk, looked very,very bad.
Danhtay Jones looked solid with a very nasty dunk that got the entire crowd oohing and ahhing
8. Let's add that looking at Kenny Thomas is just vomit inducing,no doubt about it. Old Yeller looks U-G-L-Y in that purple jersey.

Other than that, the Kings looked unimpressive, maybe back to back had something to do with but the Kings need to look at themselves in the mirror because it ain't pretty right now.

Preview: Kings at Washington

kingme18 — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 07:55:20 -0000

I'm excited. The team has a golden opportunity to build some momentum on the road even though Washington has played real well recently albeit against inferior teams. (Antonio Daniels is out 2-4 weeks)

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/49731/20071215/wizards_daniels_has_sprained_knee/

The biggest thing about the Wizards is their:

Improved center play
The development of Andray Blatche
Not to mention, significantly better ball movement and are actually, without looking at stats, playing better defensively compared to the past.

Weakness for Washington:

Three point defense
Rebounding, although they have Jamison, Haywood , Blatche and Songaila.

Matchup of the Game:

Ron Artest vs. Caron Butler

(Didn't have to be a genius to figure that one, Right?)

I'll make sure to boo Kenny Thomas if he does come into the game, on behalf of all Kings fans and especially StR.

Lineup:

Udrih/Mason Jr.
Salmons/Stevenson
Artest/Butler
Moore/Jamison
Miller/Haywood

I'll be there (Sect: 401, Row H) to experience it live!

It's time for the Kings to git 'er done.

December Predictions

kingme18 — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 03:45:42 -0000

December is another tough month for the Kings. I'm going to make a prediction and indicate how likely the prediction will occur. With (50-50) being uncertain and the lowest.

vs. HOU- W
vs. UTA- W
vs. LAC - W (80-20)
@ DEN- L (30-70)
vs. MIL - W (70-30)
@ BOS- L (90-10)
@ PHI- W (60-40)
@WAS- L (50-50)
@ NJN- L (60-40)
@ MIL - L (60-40)
vs. DEN- W (60-40)
vs. BOS- L (70-30)
vs. PHI- W (80-20)
vs. PHX- L (70-30)

What do you think of the predictions. How do u think the Kings will do this December?

Kings Waive Greene

kingme18 — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:59:46 -0000

(From the diaries. Thanks for the news, kingme18. This certainly could have something to do with some trade rumors, but I'll get into that in the comments. - TZ)

The Kings have cut their roster down to 14 by waiving Orien Greene, Geoff Petrie announced. Orien Greene has disappointed by Reggie Theus' standards and with Udrih signed as the point guard sharing the duties with Douby, Garcia, Salmons and even Artest, The Kings probably felt Greene was excess.

I, for one was kind of stunned the Kings waived Greene over Watkins because with the return of Justin Williams, I thought the Kings front-court would have been too deep while there is also glaring hole at the point with a lack of a true point guard other than Udrih rather than having a shooting guard or a small-forward transformed version of a point guard.

A bad disease

kingme18 — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:08:41 -0000

I am sorry to announce that I have fallen victim to a very bad disease which I am struggling to fight. I don't know if this is contagious or not but this disease has me in a bind.

I would say I contracted this disease during January after being mesmerized by the freshman stars Kevin Durant and Greg Oden while the Kings are dragging through the dog days of the season during the seven game losing streak.

I thought that I would be able to let it heal this summer but when the Kings came back with this exact roster compounded with Mike's injury the injury really hit hard.

Common Symptoms of this disease:

Fist pounding after a Lebron and 1 play to make it 93-88 under a minute.
Hand clapping when the Sonics went up 20 during the 2nd quarter and getting a bit antsy when the Kings were crawling back in the 2nd half.
Making a small index card charting all combinations in which the Kings could gain the most set of ping-pong balls.

Man, I hate what I have become. It's so early and I'm already looking ahead for the lottery. I've been trying to rationalize to myself that the two wins against Seattle and Minnesota at home were a given and that one shouldn't be too disappointed because there were no way shorthanded or not the Kings were going to win those two games.

If anyone can provide any kind of cure for this disease, I would really appreciate it. I want to end this once and for all. I don't ever want to be pounding my fist at the Kings' mishaps nor do I ever want to count the combinations of best lottery ping-pong balls again.

I WANT THIS TEAM TO BE FOCUSED ON MAKING THE DAMN PLAYOFFS EVEN IF IT WILL BE ONE AND OUT AGAINST THE MAVERICKS, SPURS, ROCKETS OR SUNS WHILE EVEN IF IT WOULD BE BETTER IF WE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS AND HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PICK UP A TOP PROSPECT.
I DON'T WANT TO GIVE A DAMN ABOUT A STUPID ROOKIE ANYMORE, I WANT THE DAMN POSTSEASON.

MORE IMPORTANTLY IN THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE, I WANT THE IN UTAH AND SACRAMENTO TO READ: KINGS FORCE MAJOR UPSET.

I WANT TO GO TO SLEEP PISSED OFF AFTER A KINGS LOS S AND SCREAMING MY HEAD OFF WHEN THE KINGS COME TO AN OPPOSING ARENA AS AN UNDERDOG AND STUN THE OPPOSING TEAM, LIKE THEY DID AGAINST UTAH LAST YEAR.

Bibby Has Surgery

kingme18 — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 17:59:35 -0000

(From the diaries. Thanks kingme18. - TZ)

Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee in his blog is reporting that Mike Bibby will have surgery to repair the torn ligament in his non-shooting thumb. Also reported is that according to Kings coach Reggie Theus, this is the worst-case scenario for the Kings and Mike as a result will miss at least 10 weeks now because of the surgery.

I for one would prefer to have the Kings to try to stem the tide with Quincy Douby as the Kings starting point guard on opening night. Quincy has a lot to learn and why not use the regular season to do so. The Kings were going to win 35 games at best with Bibby anyways. If Douby fails, we could always play for a high lottery pick and pick up Derrick Rose or OJ Mayo.

Good bye Justin Williams

kingme18 — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:55:08 -0000

I know I have posted something that were anti-Justin Williams. I will say I will give my unduly support to every King who wears the royal purple. The Kings need to send a resounding to the rest of the team that this will NOT be tolerated ever again!

I don't know if this is just me but this off the court bull$hit is beyond frustrating for the organization, the city of Sacramento and the fanbase, yes even for the fan from Maryland. We all know what happened last year. The hideous off-court behavior led to atrocious team chemistry. Eric Musselman's DUI, Artest's dog case and domestic violence. The team needs to cut Justin Williams regardless of his potential or whatever. The Kings need team harmony and chemistry and not off court troubles after off court troubles. When will this garbage end??? Some one give me a sign.

Sigh... Long Live Justin Williams.

NEVER SAY NEVER ON KOBE TO SACRAMENTO

kingme18 — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:57:06 -0000

I think the Lakers are in a very bad predicament with this trade. He could potentially force the Lakers to get "any" deal for him. Do you really think Kobe wants to play on a Mavs team without Josh Howard? Do you think Kobe wants to play on a Bulls team without Luol Deng? I didn't think so.

Kobe can pretty much force what the Lakers get back in any deal and if the Lakers can't get a deal they like, he can opt out and leave for absolutely nothing. Kobe has all the leverage in the world in a trade like this and thats why teams can put very low-ball offers on the table for Kobe Bryant and should the Lakers get desperate enough, get a potentially very bad deal from their point of view.

I think its very feasible that granted Kobe wants to go to Sacramento that a 1st round pick with Kevin Martin, Francisco Garcia, John Salmons and Kenny Thomas and Mikki Moore gets the deal done.