Comments on: TrueHoop Network 2009-10 Season Preview: Kings

By: Zach Harper

Zach Harper — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:23:13 +0000

@Bluejohn Ya, I've been ringing this bell since the draft but this season is all about changing the culture of basketball in this town. Before this year, the Kings have always been a soft team, easy to bully around or break down mentally (no matter how talented or bad this team was). I truly believe the Westphal pick and the guys they drafted start to reverse it. Toughness, fighting, and tenacity will be slowly injected into this franchise and it will be done so at the roots, instead of a superficial acquisition like Ron Artest. Completely agree about Evans too. The kid is a monster.

By: Bluejohn

Bluejohn — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:44:28 +0000

Hey Zach, I for one have never missed Bibby, despite Beno’s ridiculous contract. I have the Kings down for 23 wins this season but would not be surprised to see them win 30 or revisit the scene of last seasons crime.

I think the stability and coaching chops Westphal brings to the table will make a difference, indeed despite the losses I think we’ve already seen it during preseason. Actually that’s a bad choice of words as I didn’t See anything during the preseason because the games weren’t televised.

Seriously not concerned about the number of wins this season. what I do want to see is grit and hustle, rebounds, defensive intensity and I want to see us get beat by better teams rather than give up and roll over and give up to mediocre teams. I don’t want to see the Kings continue to make opponents deep bench players look like superstars. I want to see the coach pull anyone who isn’t playing all out or with focus.

Even though he yet to play a minute of real season hoops I have a feeling that ‘Reke is the best player the Kings have ever drafted and is going to be our “franchise” player. Call me a homer but this kid can do things on the basketball court that I’ve never seen done.

I hope you are right and I’m wrong but regardless, keep up the good work and i’ll be coming back to see how you think the kids are developing and the team playing.

By: pookeyguru

pookeyguru — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:05:42 +0000

@Zach Harper
Yeah I gotta agree about Teague and Sessions being a better fit overall. I think Sessions and JJ would have been nice together, but that’s Rick Sund for you.

I’m still trying to figure out how Sessions and Flynn will exist in a backcourt together, but that’s me.

As far as Bibby, it’s neither here nor there. He wanted out, and the Kings obliged. At the time of Beno’s signing, I knew it was a 50-50 proposition then. It’s turned out poorly, but it could be far worse. Chris Webber’s knee injury for starters.

If this team wins 25 games, I’ll be thrilled.

Thanks for the nice preview.

By: Zach Harper

Zach Harper — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:03:31 +0000

@pookeyguru I don't think by any means Bibby's departure sunk the team. But at the same time even the half-assed effort he was giving this organization the last two years was better than what Beno did. At least in my opinion. And I completely agree about the Hawks overpaying. They could have found a better veteran point (Sessions? Miller?) to pair with Jeff Teague.

By: Zach Harper

Zach Harper — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:01:44 +0000

@Aykis16 I agree. I think this team is no longer a pushover. Sure, the Bostons, Clevelands, and Orlandos of the league are still going to dominate them. But this team is back to being a tough out at home and will be improved on the road.

By: pookeyguru

pookeyguru — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:37:44 +0000

Nice preview Zach, but I’m going to quibble a bit with this line: “the point guard position has been an issue with this team since Mike Bibby was jettisoned for cap-friendly pieces.”

Anybody who thought that Mike Bibby’s departure sunk this team was watching a different Mike Bibby than I was. Bibby has done well with the Hawks, but that doesn’t mean the Kings didn’t make an error by trading him there in the first place. (Frankly, I think the Hawks overpaid Bibby this summer, but that’s me.)

Either way, though, good preview Zach.

By: Aykis16

Aykis16 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:28:28 +0000

Good Preview Zach. I also went with 28 wins in my Prediction post over at StR. I’m sort of enjoying all the criticism the Kings are getting and how they’re still going to be the worst team in the league, because I think once the season starts, the team will begin to turn heads. I know Westphal has been credited as an offensive coach, but he’s completely changed this teams philosophy already in the preseason. The defense is miles better than last season, Rebounding is much improved, in fact the only thing that seems to have been hurt is the offense, which is fine with me, because offense comes with chemistry and experience, but defense needs to be instilled from the get go. This is going to be a very feisty team, and it won’t give up. We’ll surprise some teams that think we’re an easy win. This team is going to be fun to watch.