The Kings, and the NBA
Since I last blogged, the Kings played the Bucks and had an excellent game, beating them. They also played Seattle last night in Seattle, and lost 106-108. The game was close and the Kings starters all played well. However, there are two reasons the Kings lost: 1) Protecting the ball -- too many turnovers. 2) The bench. Kenny Thomas was the only bench player to score (With 9 points, compared to Seattle's bench which scored over 30 points). Fact is: Sacramento is NOT going to be a good team this year unless their bench starts scoring no matter how good the starters are.
I have to believe that Geoff Petrie is looking for a trade right now. I would not be surprised if the Kings make a trade move in the next 4 to 6 weeks. The big question is: who would they move, and who are they looking at? I don't think Shareef is going anywhere because the Kings already have such a good deal on him. Bonzi Wells is playing excellently, as is the point-center Brad Miller (point-center is what Bonzi Wells calls him, as he has more assists than Bibby). Bibby is central to the team and a clutch shooter, despite struggling a bit at the beginning of the season.
That leaves Peja (who is in a contract year), Kenny Thomas, and the rest of the bench players, notably Kevin Martin, Corliss Williamson, and Brian Skinner (and maybe Francisco Garcia). Probably not Hart, because he's played decently as backup to Bibby and he's a pretty good defender.
Would the Kings be ballsy enough to move Peja? I doubt it -- mainly because they don't have a lot of bench depth at that position. Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia just aren't cutting it right now, so why move one of them into the starting lineup? They could trade Kenny Thomas, but he's the only guy actually scoring off the bench right now, so that wouldn't exactly be a step forward. I have to believe that Martin, Williamson, Skinner, or Garcia is going to be traded.
For whom? I have no idea. That's up to Petrie, not me. But there is one intriguing possibility. Trade Martin, Williamson, Skinner, and/or Garcia for a 1st/2nd round draft pick to clear out salary cap space. Then pick up Latrell Sprewell. Sprewell isn't well liked by coaches because of his attitude, but the Kings have "rehabbed" quite a few players who were considered big attitude risks, so why not Spre? Sprewell is getting older and he's not as fast as he used to be, but he can still bring the energy off the bench and score. He's going to be better than what you've got now.
I believe this would be their best move. But we'll see. Something needs to change.
---
Around the NBA: Taking a look around the NBA now that about 10 games have been played, there are some surprising/notable results:
* New York, under Larry Brown, is 3-7. I didn't think they'd be great, but I didn't expect them to be THAT bad.
* Cleveland is 8-2. That's exactly what I expected given their offseason acquisitions.
* Indiana is 6-3. Are they still a playoff team with Cleveland, Detroit, and Miami around?
* Chicago is 4-5. I expected them to be doing slightly better. I guess the team still needs some time to grow.
* Miami is 6-4. They should be 8-2 with their roster.
* Atlanta is 0-9. Guess Joe Johnson isn't as good as everybody thought.
* Utah is 4-7, having lost 5 straight. Injuries are killing this team. They especially miss Kirilenko. When he's playing, they win. When he's not, they don't.
* The Clippers are 8-2. WHAT? 8 and 2? Is this team for real? I think they might be. And Chris Kaman (their center) has been underperforming. If he starts turning it on, this team will REALLY be good.
* Golden State is 6-5. That's about what I expected. I predicted at the beginning of the year GS will make the playoffs.
* Phoenix is 4-5. They're really missing Amare. They have a great bench though, so they have a good chance of improving even without him.
* Sacramento is 4-6. I expected them to be doing better by now (and they play San Antonio tonight so it's likely they'll go to 4-7).
* LA's lesser team (the Lakers) are 4-6. Despite the emergence of Smush Parker, Kobe's just not good enough to carry the entire team without some real help. I predict the Lakers miss the playoffs this year.
* San Antonio is 8-2. No surprises there.
* Dallas is 7-2. Really? Dallas is a good team this year, with lots of depth off the bench. They're going to have a good year.
* Houston is 3-7. What's wrong with this team? They're too good to be 3-7. I am kind of boggling at this one. Even the Hornets are 4-5.
Final Thoughts: The east is looking stronger than the west this year, for the first time in... forever (Despite having the two worst teams in Toronto and Atlanta -- not to mention Charlotte). The current playoff standings in the west are:
1. The Clippers. Yup, they're #1 seed right now. Crazy.
2. San Antonio
3. Minnesota
4. Dallas
5. Memphis
6. Denver
7. Golden State
8. Seattle
Teams that could end up in the playoffs but currently aren't:
Sacramento (4-6)
Phoenix (4-5)
Houston (3-7)
Lakers (4-6)
Only one of these teams is probably going to make it in (I don't think Seattle will hold the 8th seed). Maybe 2 (if Memphis falls out, or Baron Davis gets injured and Golden State falls out). Who's it going to be? It'll be fun to watch and see how the results change over the next 10 games.
I have to believe that Geoff Petrie is looking for a trade right now. I would not be surprised if the Kings make a trade move in the next 4 to 6 weeks. The big question is: who would they move, and who are they looking at? I don't think Shareef is going anywhere because the Kings already have such a good deal on him. Bonzi Wells is playing excellently, as is the point-center Brad Miller (point-center is what Bonzi Wells calls him, as he has more assists than Bibby). Bibby is central to the team and a clutch shooter, despite struggling a bit at the beginning of the season.
That leaves Peja (who is in a contract year), Kenny Thomas, and the rest of the bench players, notably Kevin Martin, Corliss Williamson, and Brian Skinner (and maybe Francisco Garcia). Probably not Hart, because he's played decently as backup to Bibby and he's a pretty good defender.
Would the Kings be ballsy enough to move Peja? I doubt it -- mainly because they don't have a lot of bench depth at that position. Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia just aren't cutting it right now, so why move one of them into the starting lineup? They could trade Kenny Thomas, but he's the only guy actually scoring off the bench right now, so that wouldn't exactly be a step forward. I have to believe that Martin, Williamson, Skinner, or Garcia is going to be traded.
For whom? I have no idea. That's up to Petrie, not me. But there is one intriguing possibility. Trade Martin, Williamson, Skinner, and/or Garcia for a 1st/2nd round draft pick to clear out salary cap space. Then pick up Latrell Sprewell. Sprewell isn't well liked by coaches because of his attitude, but the Kings have "rehabbed" quite a few players who were considered big attitude risks, so why not Spre? Sprewell is getting older and he's not as fast as he used to be, but he can still bring the energy off the bench and score. He's going to be better than what you've got now.
I believe this would be their best move. But we'll see. Something needs to change.
---
Around the NBA: Taking a look around the NBA now that about 10 games have been played, there are some surprising/notable results:
* New York, under Larry Brown, is 3-7. I didn't think they'd be great, but I didn't expect them to be THAT bad.
* Cleveland is 8-2. That's exactly what I expected given their offseason acquisitions.
* Indiana is 6-3. Are they still a playoff team with Cleveland, Detroit, and Miami around?
* Chicago is 4-5. I expected them to be doing slightly better. I guess the team still needs some time to grow.
* Miami is 6-4. They should be 8-2 with their roster.
* Atlanta is 0-9. Guess Joe Johnson isn't as good as everybody thought.
* Utah is 4-7, having lost 5 straight. Injuries are killing this team. They especially miss Kirilenko. When he's playing, they win. When he's not, they don't.
* The Clippers are 8-2. WHAT? 8 and 2? Is this team for real? I think they might be. And Chris Kaman (their center) has been underperforming. If he starts turning it on, this team will REALLY be good.
* Golden State is 6-5. That's about what I expected. I predicted at the beginning of the year GS will make the playoffs.
* Phoenix is 4-5. They're really missing Amare. They have a great bench though, so they have a good chance of improving even without him.
* Sacramento is 4-6. I expected them to be doing better by now (and they play San Antonio tonight so it's likely they'll go to 4-7).
* LA's lesser team (the Lakers) are 4-6. Despite the emergence of Smush Parker, Kobe's just not good enough to carry the entire team without some real help. I predict the Lakers miss the playoffs this year.
* San Antonio is 8-2. No surprises there.
* Dallas is 7-2. Really? Dallas is a good team this year, with lots of depth off the bench. They're going to have a good year.
* Houston is 3-7. What's wrong with this team? They're too good to be 3-7. I am kind of boggling at this one. Even the Hornets are 4-5.
Final Thoughts: The east is looking stronger than the west this year, for the first time in... forever (Despite having the two worst teams in Toronto and Atlanta -- not to mention Charlotte). The current playoff standings in the west are:
1. The Clippers. Yup, they're #1 seed right now. Crazy.
2. San Antonio
3. Minnesota
4. Dallas
5. Memphis
6. Denver
7. Golden State
8. Seattle
Teams that could end up in the playoffs but currently aren't:
Sacramento (4-6)
Phoenix (4-5)
Houston (3-7)
Lakers (4-6)
Only one of these teams is probably going to make it in (I don't think Seattle will hold the 8th seed). Maybe 2 (if Memphis falls out, or Baron Davis gets injured and Golden State falls out). Who's it going to be? It'll be fun to watch and see how the results change over the next 10 games.
posted by Tarindel @ 10:29 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home