The very protective company line holds that very little has changed. No radical shifts, Kings coach Paul Westphal says. Kevin Martin moves toward wrist surgery, Beno Udrih slips into the starting backcourt, but Tyreke Evans remains the point guard.

Mike Bibby took the detour to the visitors' locker room before his latest visit, stopping to chat with security guards, with Kings staffers, with a few of his old coaches and ex-teammates.

It began 25 years ago, these Kings in Sacramento. Gregg Lukenbill in his red sneakers. David Stern arriving in his limousine. Jerry Reynolds in the old, old, old Arco Arena, holding the assistant's clipboard and leading the cheers.

Now that Paul Westphal has landed the head coaching job for the Kings, his challenge is to transform the league's worst team (17-65 last season) into one of respectability and relevance.

Spencer Hawes was having another lousy day at the office. His left ankle injury was lingering. His rebounding was lackluster. His defense was erratic. His confidence was nonexistent. He was confused and frustrated and angry about losing his starting job.

Even the cowbells have the blues.

The Warriors can't help themselves. You can clean them up and wipe away some of the latest inflammatory quotes, but this is a team that was built to whine, not necessarily to win.

Professional sports owners generally are not my favorite people. Many of them are just politicians with larger bank accounts. You wouldn't trust them to deposit your $10 check.

Omri Casspi had three tough days and what he thought were three legitimate reasons to be in a funk. He thought the coach was down on him. He thought his fans in Israel were disappointed. He thought the glut of Kings small forwards foreshadowed a season of down time, depriving him of an opportunity to establish himself in the league.

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