Kings Blog and Q&A

News, observations and reader questions about the Sacramento Kings and the NBA.

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Zachary Andrews, the former Cordova High and Bradley University star who spent the past four years playing overseas, just left a message on my phone. It's all good. He has been added to the Lakers training camp roster.

The 6-foot-9 forward was called up from the Lakers D-League affiliate - the L.A. Defenders - earlier today. He averaged 11.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists while starting all eight games for former Kings coach Eric Musselman.

Since returning spring from Japan, where he played last season, Andrews, 26, also has become a vocal advocate for the Sacramento area homeless. He continues to speak openly and publicly about his own trying boyhood and the perils of "couch surfing" - the practice of moving from home to home, seeking shelter from friends, teachers and relatives. He credits his coaches and teachers at Cordova for getting him through high school and helping him earn a scholarship to Bradley.

A lifelong Kings fan, Andrews' dream was to be signed by the hometown team. But as he told me several weeks ago when he signed with the Defenders, he would have no problem setting aside his loyalties for a chance to make the Lakers squad. If he fails to stick after training camp, he would return to the D-League.

December 7, 2011
Kings back in black

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I just came back from Arco Arena - oops, I mean Power Balance Pavilion - for the unveiling of the Kings new alternative jerseys. Since black is my universal choice for clothing of all types and circumstances (formal, casual, semi-formal) anyway, I thought the jerseys were sleek and impressive, and a major improvement over those gold alternative unis that were introduced a few years ago. The new black jersey has "Kings" scripted in silver (with purple edging) across the front. While I could have done without the roundish retro lettering, overall, I suspect the look is going to be extremely popular.

As for the price, the replica jerseys sell for $44 (kids) and $59 (adults), with the authentic uniforms tagged at $250 and $275.

One more clothing aside before we let the fashion experts take over: The Kings are marketing the Dec. 26 season opener against the Lakers as a blackout night. They will distribute 17,317 black T-shirts as fans enter the building. Additionally, those who purchase the "Back in Black" four-game ticket package (Lakers, Bulls, Knicks, Hornets) receive different T-shirt to all the games.

Taking nothing away from previous Kings assistants, but the recent additions of Keith Smart and Jim Todd strengthen Paul Westphal's staff appreciably. Jim Eyen is the lone holdover from last year's Kings staff that included Mario Elie and first-time assistants Truck Robinson and Otis Hughley. Smart, who was released as Warriors head coach at the end of last year, and Todd, whose hiring was announced earlier today, come with extensive coaching portfolios. With a young team built around bookends Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins, the moves make perfect sense.

Smart has been a head coach in the now defunct Continental Basketball Association and was a longtime Warriors assistant before succeeding Don Nelson juist prior to the start of 2010-11. Todd has been an NBA assistant with the Bucks, Clippers, Hawks and Raptors, been head coach of the Clippers, and been an assistant and head coach in college. Additionally, he brings a wealth of international experience, having coached in China and with the Canadian national team.

Kings spokesman Chris Clark said all the team ticket representatives will be working the phones when the 2011-12 NBA schedule is announced today at 4 p.m. While individual game tickets will not be available for a few more days, a number of packages are available, including:

• Full season tickets.

• The Big Game Plan. This features nine of the most attractive home games, plus the Dec. 26 season opener against the visiting Lakers.

• The Weekend Plan. This includes nine weekend games, plus the season opener.

• The Flex Plan. Fans choose their nine games.

Additionally, the Kings are releasing a limited number of $10 (per game) season passes to home games, and on Friday, the team is holding an open house for fans wanting to choose their seats for season and partial plans. Within the next few days, I am told, more plans will be announced. The number to call is: 888 91 Kings.

For those who might be following the career of Zach Andrews, the former Cordova High and Bradley University standout who spent most of his prep career "couch surfing" around Sacramento, here is a quick update: Andrews, who grew up wanting to play for the Kings and hoped to sign with their D-League affiliate (Reno Bighorns) after playing professionally overseas the past four years, signed instead with the LA D-fenders, the Lakers' D-League squad.

Eric Musselman - yes, that Eric Musselman - offered Andrews a contract after a D-League tryout last month in Los Angeles. The 6-foot-9 forward, who was all-conference at Cordova, opted to take the deal rather than risk not making the Bighorns roster during a subsequently scheduled tryout. In a recent conversation, though, Andrews, who was profiled in The Bee on Oct. 16, said he will remain a vocal advocate for the homeless in his hometown.

As for his hoop dreams? Up and down. The forward/center scored nine points and grabbed 13 rebounds Friday in the D-fenders season opener, then struggled through an 0-for-4, four-rebound performance Saturday night.

November 26, 2011
Kings await schedule info


While waiting to hear details about the 66-game schedule the NBA plans to introduce now that a collective bargaining agreement has been reached in principle, it will be interesting to see if the Kings open the season at home or revisit their long road streak. The original 2011-12 schedule had the Kings hosting the Houston Rockets in the season opener at Power Balance Pavilion. That game would have broken the Kings' seven-game streak of opening on the road. (The last home opener? LeBron James' debut). Additionally, the Kings would have played four of their first five games at home, including an early visit by the Lakers. Now, let's see.

There have plenty of people reminiscing about the 20-year anniversary of Magic Johnson's announcement that he had contracted HIV, but here are a few additional thoughts. As someone who covered the NBA in Los Angeles during the Showtime Era, and then moved to Atlanta in the late 1980s, I was among those devastated by the news in both a professional and personal sense. Earvin was someone I knew well, and we thought he had just received a death sentence.

So, among my recollections are these thoughts:

• Jerry West, Mike Dunleavy, the late Chick Hearn and the Lakers players were about as forthright, supportive and dignified as it gets. I will never forget the sight of West sitting alone in the stands at the Forum before the Lakers ensuing home game, knowing that dozens of reporters had flown to Los Angeles to cover the story, and waiting to be approached. His tears flowed. The same could be said of Chick. He sat there, overwhelmed and overcome, but still talking about his beloved Earvin.

• Earvin retired after the announcement before the 19991-92 season, but he stayed on the original 1992 Dream Team, which had been named a few weeks earlier. The following Summer of '92 was incredible, still the highlight of my 30-year career. Only a handful or so of us journalists accompanied the team during the training camp in La Jolla, the Tournament of the Americas in Portland, and before the Barcelona Games, to a week-long training session in Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo? In the same hotel with Magic, Larry, Charles, Michael, Stockton, Malone, Mullin, etc.? Practices, dinners, drinks and informal gatherings? Are you kidding me?

The most memorable moment of the entire summer, however, took place during an exhibition game between Team USA and France in an arena just outside Monte Carlo. The politics of Magic's AIDS announcement were still dicey - Jerry Colangelo, Mark Price, Karl Malone and others within the U.S. had expressed concern about his presence on the court. Additionally, a few players from Australia had popped off with similar concerns. But, c'est la vie. Or, vive la France! My peeps (my last name means neighbor in French) welcomed Earvin that night with a warmth, pomp and circumstance and repeated ovations that, frankly, had all of us jaded journalists pretty much reaching for the tissues. Prince Albert and Prince Rainier were a few seats away, and engaged in the entire evening. The public address announcer wore a tuxedo and was, so typical of the French, totally theatrical, embellishing every one of Magic's passes, layups or rebounds.

Again, to think that Earvin is alive and thriving, 20 years later, is more than amazing.

One more thing: For those of us journalists who have continue to cover multiple sports but were assigned to the NBA in the 1980s, the Magic-Bird rivalry was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.


Though this is totally out of character, Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof are adhering to David Stern's gag order regarding NBA labor relations and biting down hard on their tongues. Normally, these guys can't help themselves. They are universally regarded as two of the most accessible and approachable owners in the league. But their allegiance to Stern - and his threat and/or levying of hefty fines - has kept them quiet. And believe me, I've tried. My colleagues also have been texting them like crazy, to little avail. (Hey, they've lost enough money of late, right?)

On Monday - which would have been opening night of the 2011-12 regular season - Stern hit Miami Heat owner Micky Arison with a $500,000 fine for his labor-related tweets with fans. The Commissioner previously fined Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan $100,000 when MJ offered his thoughts on the situation.

While no formal meetings between the league and the union were scheduled as of late Monday, rest assured, they're working the back channels. The way these NBA labor dealings usually transpire, representatives from both parties secretly meet to try to bridge the differences. And since the differences seem to be narrowed to the split of basketball-related income (BRI), meaning they're not very far part, one has to suspect that private conversations remain intense and ongoing.


In terms of the 2011-12 NBA season, today looms as a pretty significant day. The league and its union representatives met for a marathon 15-hour session that began at noon and lasted untl the wee hours, with talks scheduled to resume at 3 p.m. (Hey, at least it's New York, so I am assuming a few delis were still open when David Stern, Adam Silver, Billy Hunter, Derek Fisher, etc., left the hotel). The length of the negotiations - coupled with their post-session comments and the subdued, serious tenor of the parties during ensuing press conference televised on NBA.TV - at least hints of progress.

Stern, who left talks last week with a case of the flu and appeared absolutely exhausted, described the meetings as "a solid day of negotiations." Hunter similarly declined to discuss particular issues, other than to acknowledge the talks focused on "system" rather than the split of basketball-related revenues, but added that, "depending on how much progress is made tomorrow (Thursday), we'll be prepared to discuss specifics of a deal."

Anyway, it certainly sounds like there is more to come, and sooner rather than later.


No question, I am very surprised that the league and its player union failed to reach a tentative agreement after meeting extensively these past few days. As I wrote last week, I told two friends that a deal would get done without the NBA losing any games - and bet them both a couple of beers. Well, at least I was thinking domestic (cheap) beers. This is also why I might be one of few former Las Vegas residents who never spent time at the tables in the casino!

Meantime, if the parties resolve the issues without further delays, the Kings will still open the season at home - Nov. 16 against the Washington Wizards. John Wall's presence nothwithstanding, somehow, that lacks the cache of a canceled home opener against the Houston Rockets (and new coach Kevin McHale), and the first visit by the post-Phil Jackson Lakers. This also means no Sacramento reunion this season with Cleveland Cavaliers forward Omri Casspi, and one less matchup with the Warriors in Oakland.

This could be the least of it, though. Who knows?


Approximately 15 owners were expected to take part in the collective bargaining talks today in New, but according to Kings publicist Chris Clark, the Maloofs are not among them. Co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof tend to side with NBA Commissioner David Stern on most matters, and from what I have been told, they already have weighed in heavily on the need for a more generous revenue-sharing program. Today's meeting is critical. If progress is made, the parties will continue negotiating throughout the weekend.


So who says NBA officials always steal the attention? The league and its referees reached an agreement - very quietly reached an agreement - on a new five-year deal that was ratified by the owners Thursday in Dallas. (This means the refs occupied at least a few minutes of the owners' time amid discussions about their labor impasse with the players). The refs were working on a two-year deal they signed in 2009, but only after a league-imposed lockout left them watching replacement refs turn preseason games into even slower, more laborious, overregulated endeavors than usual. This year, the refs were up against it. With the players and leagues feuding, it was pretty wise to take what they could get, including the stability of a five-year contract.


Remember the WNBA

I saw a few familiar faces during the ESPN2 telecast of the New York Liberty-Indiana Fever opening round playoff game at Conseco Fieldhouse. Former Monarchs coach John Whisenant, who in his first year with the club, guided the franchise into tghe WNBA Playoffs, was there on the sidelines, arms crossed most of the time, as usual. In the deciding final minute, Nicole Powell, whose last-second jumper in Houston made the Monarchs' 2005 WNBA Championship possible, inbounded the ball to a wide open Cappie Pondexter for what would have been a game-winning three at the buzzer. Instead, the ball bounded off the back of the rim, enabling the Fever to capture the best-of-three series opener.

Yeah, we miss the Monarchs.

August 24, 2011
Kings, NBA, and booze


With so much media attention directed at the violence that erupted at last Saturday's Raiders-Niners preseason game, I was curious about the Kings' policy regarding liquor sales at Power Balance Pavilion. According to team publicist Chris Clark, the NBA requires that all teams stop selling beer and liquor at the end of the third quarter. The policy was designed to discourage fans from driving under the influence after games, though preventing unruly crowd behavior was certainly a consideration. Spectators who in fact have been removed from their seats by security offiicials are probably familiar with the two jail cells that are located behind the security entrance.

Greg Van Dusen, the Kings original vice-president who pushed for construction of jail cells in the rendering of Arco II, said one of his more frightening fan experiences occurred during a Solons game at Hughes Stadium in 1975.

"We had two fraternities from Sac State fighting," said Van Dusen, who operated the stadium at the time. "One of them had a pistol. We must have had 4,000 or 5,000 people at the game, but only three security guards. When the fight started, our sales manager and I came fying out of the press box and dove right in. We started pulling people apart. Some of the fans came over and helped us, thank goodness. The other night that aws pretty spooky was our "bat night" promotion, where we handed out those 19-inch bats to all our customers. People were beating the crap out of each other, so (laugh) we didn't do that one again."

Whatever can be said (and is) about Minnesota Timberwolves GM David Kahn, he deserves credit for conducting a real coaching search - and helping to dispel the ridiculous notion that big name coaches aren't interested in small markets. Coaches care about one thing: talent. The longer the Wolves' search continues, the more interesting it gets. Bernie Bickerstaff. Don Nelson. Rick Adelman. Mike Woodson. Terry Porter. And according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Larry Brown is going to interview.

Nelson offers his uptempo offense, which would seem to benefit rookie Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love. Adelman is a master of coaching ball and body movement, as was evident with his Kings teams. Additionally, his Blazers were exceptional in the open court. He also has a longtime relationship with Kahn - a former Portland Oregonian NBA beat writer - as has Brown, the ex-coach of his alma mater, who might be the best all-around coach in the league if you can get past his, um, issues. Bickerstaff is another highly regarded veteran coach who comes without the drama. (The obvious omission among available candidates is Jerry Sloan, but given Kahn's own quirky personality, that seems like a complete non-starter).

Basically, Kahn has been around long enough and worked in enough different capacities to know who he likes and doesn't like. He has also worked as an attorney for the NBA, was instrumental in the concept and financing of Conseco Fieldhouse, owned several D-League teams, etc.). If Adelman really wants the job, it would be hard to bet against him at this point.


SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - I don't consider myself particularly prescient - count me among the Dallas Mavericks doubters, for example - but I'm pretty close on that Jimmer Fredette-Charles Barkley comparison at the Tahoe Celebrity Golf Tournament. The two finished the first round Friday tied at -30 - their terrible scores eclipsed only by Jay DeMarcus of the country band Rascal Flatts. Barkley, of course, is the famous hacker who arguably has become the face of the tournament. (No one engages the fans like Charles, who was in his usual rare form Friday). Fredette, the Kings rookie, had played 10-15 rounds of golf prior to the event, and accepted an invitation to hang with other celebs and mingle with fans. Though an intense competitor, he is as good-natured as advertised.


SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - When Jimmer Fredette walked off the course a few minutes ago following his practice round at the Celeb-Am Tournament - and after he briefly signed autographs, as he did throughout the day - the crowd of about 50 spectators swarmed him and became unusually aggressive. He was pinned near the bleachers on the 18th hole, and it was a few minutes before security guards intervened and cleared a path to the clubhouse. A few adult males shouted obscenities as he moved toward the clubhouse, appearing flustered.


SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - After presenting Jimmer Fredette with his award (best college player) at the ESPYs Wednesday night, Green Bay Packers quarterback and Chico native Aaron Rodgers gave the Kings rookie something of a pep talk.


"I've been a Kings fan for a long time," said Rodgers, the Super Bowl MVP, after completing his round Thursday at the Celeb-Am portion of the American Century Championship. "We've had some rough seasons. I just said, 'Hey, come on now. We've got to get this thing straightened out to the days of Vlade and CWebb and Bobby J, Mike Bibby, Peja, Christie. We've got to get some wins back.' "




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Jimmer Fredette laughs after several unsuccessful attempts to hit out of a bunker during the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in South Lake Tahoe. (Randall Benton/rbenton@sacbee.com)

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - Jimmer Fredette is a rookie at this. Seriously, he hasn't done this before.

Before his inaugural appearance Thursday in the celebrity pro-am at the American Century Championship, the Kings first-round draft choice had never played in a tournament, never played before a crowd, and could count the times he has ever lifted a golf club.

"About 10-15," Fredette said before heading to the course for what is essentially a practice round. "Don't expect much. I'll hit it pretty far, but I can't drive it straight. The ball slices on me."

Fredette, who attended the ESPYs in Los Angeles Wednesday night and was working on about four hours sleep, came as advertised. His drives had a wicked slice. He hit into a few bunkers. He struggled with his putts.

But he remained good-natured as he walked the course, often waving to a crowd of few dozen that included his parents Al and Kay Fredette. At the driving range earlier in the day, the former BYU star was introduced to other notables competing in the tournament, among them, Charles Barkley, Kenny Lofton and Digger Phelps.

"I'm glad he came up here," Barkley said while taking a break in shade. "It's going to be good for him. He's in the NBA now. He's going to have four months to do nothing. You get tired of playing basketball every day. He's going to have to come up with some other hobby."

When Fredette approached a few minutes later and the two shook hands, Barkley cracked, "I want to see how you play. Don't get nervous out there."

Fredette, who met Dirk Nowitzki and several other NBA stars before receiving his ESPY award (fans vote) for the best college player, is paired with Tim Tebow and Herm Edwards and expected to tee off Friday at 11:35.

Call The Bee's Ailene Voisin, (916) 321-1208.

Here are a few thoughts, insights and assorted observations on the Thursday's NBA Draft:

* It wouldn't be right to let Beno Udrih slip quietly out of Sacramento without mentioning his impressive rehab.

The player who once was traded by a frustrated Gregg Popovich, waived before he even got on the plane to his next destination (Minneapolis) and had another miserable Year II with the Kings, looked in the mirror and these past two seasons changed everything.

He worked himself into tremendous shape, served as a mentor to Tyreke Evans, and this past season was the Kings' most consistent player. His stop-and-pops from the foul line were money shots, and during his four seasons here, he learned to accept and absorb physical contact that routinely follows drives to the basket.


There is plenty more from George Maloof in tomorrow's Bee, but here are a few other additional topics that I found interesting. I will start by saying how surprised I was by his attitude; he no longer sounded like someone seething about the NBA/owners' refusal to endorse the Kings' attempted relocation to Anaheim two months ago. After spending more than an hour with him at the Palms Casino - of which the family recently relinquished controlling interest to elminate their debt - I came away thinking that the Maloofs never really change. Say what you want - and anyone who aspires to own a professional franchise has to be more than a little eccentric - but the Maloofs are a transparent, straightforward bunch. They don't keep secrets well.

So back to George, who will oversee all future arena discussions for the family, and who strikes me as genuinely determined to getting something done in Sacramento. Maybe that's because the league doesn't (a) want to give up this market (remember Seattle), (b) doesn't want a third team in southern California and (c) is intent on securing substantial revenue sharing relief for small market owners in the new collective bargaining agreement? Who knows what's in the heart? Then there's the fact the Maloofs only own two percent of the Palms, with an option to purchase 20 percent in the future. In other words, the Kings rule.

Or let's just say, these circumstances and these Maloofs remind me of the Maloofs who bought majority interest in the Kings in 1999 and immediately (and successfully) began wooing the community. We are talking fullblown love affair, folks. They were attentive, eager, engaged, and committed to putting a winning product on the court. (The Palms, by the way, was a blueprint at the time). That entire concept - a winning product on the court - is huge here. There will be plenty more to say about that in the future. Meantime, a few other leftovers from a recent, typically blistering Las Vegas afternoon with George:

* On the ongoing attempts to secure financing for a sports/entertainment complex in Sacramento: "I don't think we have ever been involved this intimately, on a daily basis. I think the community is doing a great job, and the mayor (Kevin Johnson) has been incredible. We had to have somebody there to to take the lead politically. Everybody's trying, so if everybody's trying, something good can happen. I'm more confident that at any time in the past. We all want to make it happen."
* On the alleged family feud about whether to file for relocation or remain in Sac: "We never lost our cool (laugh), never started yelling or anything. But it was hard, because we were torn. Adrienne, Phil, we all had our say. (Matriarch) Colleen was on the fence. We just were so concerned about making the right decision. And I think we have."
* On failed ballot Measures Q & R in 2006: "We never had a chance. That never should have gone to the ballot. It wasn't ready. And the main thing is, when you're negotiating something, you can't negotiate in public, and too much of that was public. You're sitting across a table from somebody, trying to do your best, they're trying to do their best, and things are said publicly and get misunderstood. It was strange. It was put together way too fast. And you can't play this stuff out in the media. It never works."
* On the downtown location: "Hey, I think Natomas is great. That's my opinion. We've got everything there. The off-ramps, the parking. It's the most natural location. Everybody is used to going there. But I also understand the downtown concept, I totally get that. Whatever works."
* On his sister Adrienne's role in the television series, "Housewives of Beverly Hills": I begged her not to do it. 'Don't go on, don't go on.' It's a reality show, and all that. We were all trying to protect her. She says, 'I'm going to do it.' And now I think it's great. She's terrific. She and Paul (husband, Dr. Paul Nassif) are totally themselves. It's all real ... we can't wait for the next season."
* On the current status of arena discussions: "I'm waiting to hear from ICON, sometime in the near future. I've been to Sacramento three times already. I just fly in and fly out, because I can't stay away from the Palms too long. it's 24/7. I have to be here. But when there's important stuff, I'll be there. And my brothers (Joe and Gavin) are there all the time now."

So, all of those folks you actually predicted the Dallas Mavericks would win the championship, stand up and take a bow. Most of us were fooled. Sometimes, when you spend a lot of time around the modern NBA - the ESPN specials, the preseason celebrations, the star power, the bells and whistles in the arenas - you can almost forget that teams wins championships. Here are a few things that resonate after Dallas' impressive finale Sunday evening:

• Dirk Nowitzki is not Larry Bird, so that chatter needs to stop. Bird was a triple-double threat every time he stepped on the court. But similar to Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and all the greats, Dirk improved his game every offseason. Bird, who is ambidextrous anyway, mastered the lefty runner. Magic improved the range on his jump shot. Jordan became a superb outside shooter. Scottie Pippen developed a jumper. Dirk no longer lingers on the perimeter, and attacks the basket with both his right and left hand. In fact, he used his left hand on most of late-game drives during these Finals. He is older, wiser, better, tougher.

• Hard to believe we're even saying this, but after eight years in the league, LeBron James still needs to develop his off-ball skills. As ABC/ESPN analyst Jon Barry cautioned before the series, LeBron's skills in many respect duplicate those of Dwyane Wade.

• Love this comment from Mavs veteran Jason Kidd: "That was our theory all season, make multiple passes. If you make more than two passes, guys are going to give up." Or, as Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said during his post-game, on-court interview, his players "trusted the pass." Admittedly, I'm a ball movement fanatic. I never, ever, ever, want to see the 1-4 offense again .... it's bad basketball, and bad for the league.

• Carlisle was simply superb. First of all, he wasn't afraid to coach his big personalities, which separates him from too many of his peers. He moved J.J. Barea into the starting lineup midway into the series. He sat his superstar, Nowitzki, for defensive purposes during last-game situations. He turned to Brian Cardinal when Peja Stojakovic was totally ineffective. How many coaches have the guts to make those moves? And he repeatedly disrupted the Heat with a zone defense -- a defense few NBA teams have a clue how to attack. As I have said for years, and will continue to say, the importance of coaching in this league cannot be overstated, particularly in the playoffs. Leadership. Adjustments. Tough lineup decisions. Tough in-game decisions. Carlisle, who was known as "Flip" because of his big feet during his playing career with the Boston Celtics, was a master of his circumstances.

• None other than Jerry West offered high praise for Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and Carlisle - whom he jokingly referred as "Jim Carrey, Jr." on Friday during Mark Jackson's introductory press conference in San Francisco. Couldn't agree more. Spoelstra had an impossible job given the LeBron theatrics, his lack of a low post presence, and the esteemed Pat Riley looking over his shoulder. And, interestingly, Carlisle was more flexible and more demanding than during his previous coaching tenures in Detroit and Indiana. Class acts, both of them.

• Finally, kudos to Dirk. This is a different guy than five years ago. He was not going to lose ......


Ruthie Bolton, a member of the original Monarchs (now-defunct) franchise, will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend in Knoxville, Tenn. I saw here several weeks ago, and she was extremely excited about the awards ceremony. She continues to live in Sacramento and shows up at various Kings events and other local events. Other inductees include former WNBA and Olympic star Vicky Bullett, coach Muffett McGraw and Val Ackerman, the former NBA attorney (and salary cap whiz) who lobbied and badgered and begged David Stern, Russ Granik and Rod Thorn into forming a women's league in 1997.

Mark Jackson's quick trip

New Warriors head coach Mark Jackson will be introduced at a press conference this afternoon at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. Don't envy his travel schedule. The departing ABC/ESPN analyst planned to take a flight to the Bay Area late Thursday after broadcasting Game 5 of the NBA Finals, then head cross country for Sunday's Game 6 in Miami.


A few late thoughts on Game 5:
* LeBron James. Two points in the fourth quarter. The mystery deepens. Actually, this is absolutely crazy.
* I totally agree with ABC/ESPN analyst (and former Kings guard) Jon Barry. This series does not rank among all-time great NBA Finals in quality of play, but in terms of competition, defense and intensity? Incredible. Can't believe it all ends within a matter of days.
* Mark Cuban has been so uncharacteristically quiet, he must be ready to pop. If the Mavericks ultimately prevail, will he have to be sedated?
* Jeff Van Gundy should be coaching somewhere in this league. Still don't understand why the Lakers didn't make a serious run at hiring him.

Final thoughts on a great player

Mike Mitchell, who was one of the league's premier small forwards in the 1980s, died of cancer. He was only 55. Though he flourished in spite of Ted Stepien's wacky reign with the Cavaliers (1978-81), his best seasons were with the San Antonio Spurs. On a roster that included George Gervin, Artis Gilmore and Johnny Moore, the 6-foot-7 Mitchell four times finished in the top 10 in scoring. Over a 10-years career, he averaged 19.8 points and 5.6 rebounds. He also shot 49.3 percent - very impressive given the percentage of attempts that were jumpers. The thing I'll always remember? Besides the fact his Spurs could never get past Magic's Lakers? That smooth, effortless jumper. He had great rotation on the ball, and every time he gathered one of those perfectly placed passes from Moore and released one of those familiar 18-20 footers, you expected the shot to drop into the net. Condolences to his family ....


The Warriors' hiring of Mark Jackson a few hours ago caught most Bay Area types by surprise. The sense was that the process would drag on for another week or so, with owner Joe Lacob waiting to speak with Dallas Mavericks assistant Dwane Casey after the NBA Finals. But Lacob just seems to love the drama. He loves the surprises. (See his hiring of Jerry West as a consultant). Whether he has a clue about successfully running an NBA franchise is another matter. This is a risky hiring, to say the least.

Jackson, who is working on ESPN/ABC's announcing crew during the Finals, has never been a head coach, an assistant, or worked with a team in any other capacity.
Nonetheless, we know this much about the incoming Warriors coach: He was a headstrong, clever, old-fashioned, playmaking point guard who finished his career trailing only John Stockton and Jason Kidd in total assists. Applying a little logic here - always a danger when dabbling in the NBA - Jackson's hiring surely seems to further the notion that the Warriors plan to bust up the undersized backcourt of Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis. It doesn't work and was never going to work. Ellis, who was skeptical from the start, was only telling it like it was. And is. Serious trade talks to continue.

Here are a few musings, notes and observations about the Kings' reunion barbecue at Power Balance Pavilion that was a combination fan fest, season ticket pitch and feel-good moment for a fan base that seems to be completely invigorated following the team's near-move to Anaheim.

Maybe everyone is still in shock - the Kings are still in Sacramento! - but there was a real energy and enthusiasm in the building. Quite a contrast to the April 13 sob fest, when it seemed liked a foregone conclusion that the team was moving to Anaheim. Anyway, it was an interesting afternoon, to say the least:

• Brad Miller, who maintains his home in Sacramento, surprised everyone when he showed up on crutches and revealed that he underwent the dreaded microfracture surgery a few weeks ago on on his left knee. He has a year remaining on his contract with the Houston Rockets and hopes to resume his career at midseason. Ouch. Good luck. Remember Chris Webber.


Shaquille O'Neal's decision to retire was not a stunner, but it still deprives the league's of one of its truly great characters. Shaq was a load! Similar to what Bobby Jackson told me earlier today, you almost can't appreciate his size - 7-foot-1 and anywhere from 300-400 pounds, given the months - until you are physically in his presence. Surprisingly, he spoke in a whisper. When we were having lunch in a downtown Atlanta restaurant prior to the 1996 Olympics, he literally took the tape recorder out of my hand and held it up to his mouth, explaining that his voice simply didn't resonate. Anyway, he will be missed. And if the NBA wants to become even more popular, it can only hope that similarly charismatic personalities emerge in the future.

A few other musings about Shaq:
* It truly bothered him that Christian Laettner was the token collegian on the 1992 Dream Team roster that consisted of Magic, Michael, Larry, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson and Clyde Drexler. Shaq should USA Basketball should have selected him instead of Laettner, and frankly, it would hard to argue otherwise. And, yes, he missed out. There will never be another Barcelona.
* He and his Laker teammates obsessed about the Kings while sweeping the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Finals. And to this day, Kobe keeps telling me the Kings were the better team that year and that Sacramento should have prevailed and gone on to win a championship.
* The Big Aristotle - my favorite of Shaq's self-declared nicknames - said he broke both wrists while trying to shimmy between two trees when he was a kid. Both arms were placed in casts, and he was never regained full range of motion on his right hand, leading to his "pushing" motion on his shooting touch. Or, lack of shooting touch.
* Here's another reason Jerry West and Pat Riley run to the head of the class: they know how to recruit. Riley most recently wooed LeBron James and Chris Bosh to Miami, but in 1996, Jerry West made an impassioned and successful last-minute pitch that lured Shaq to the Lakers. Into the final hours, Shaq, who was a free agent with Orlando at the time, was leaning toward re-signing with the Magic. Among other things, he prefers smaller cities and despised the traffic in Southern California. But when The Logo persisted, Shaq couldn't resist. As he said a few days later, "that was Jerry West. He kept coming at me. How do you say 'no?' "
* In essence, Shaq was a load, a huge load. Funny. Smart. Curious. Intriguing. Temperamental. Entertaining. Endearing. Often outrageous. Dominating on and off the court. He will be missed. Can I say that again? He ... will .... be ... missed!


I spent about 30 minutes Saturday catching up with Mike Bibby for a column in today's Bee, and wanted to add a few more offerings from the conversation. The former Kings point guard - affectionately referred to as "Bibbles" by several of my female colleagues in the office - was pretty funny. He still has that great laugh. With his Miami Heat hosting Game 1 of the NBA Finals tonight, he teased (Dallas Mavericks reserve) Peja Stojakovic from afar, reminisced about his 6 1/2 seasons with the Kings, and said he spent much of the weekend monitoring the girls and boys AAU teams he sponsors in his hometown Phoenix.

"My son (Mike) is on one of the teams," said Bibby, whose wife Darcy and four children remain in his hometown because of school. "He's my oldest, he's 13 now, but he's just like me. He ain't the fastest guy, but he's smart, heady, and he can play. That's what I told him will make him successful. Don't let anybody outwork him. I try to put him at the point, but he's pretty interchangeable - can play one, two or three. I learned some of that from Rick (Adelman). I try to incorporate plays I learned in Sac, Atlanta, and now here."

Bibby, who seemed to account for all the clutch shots during his time with the Kings, asked what was going on with Sacramento's arena situation. Similar to several of his former teammates, he has been following developments via newspapers and websites. As for the team he joined in March, he repeatedly mentioned how impressed he was with the defense. "It reminds me of my first year in the league (with the Vancouver Grizzlies)," he continued. "I remember playing San Antonio. Everywhere I turned, there was somebody guarding me, helping out. They (Spurs) made it hard to do anything. I haven't had that again until I got here. It's all about defense, helping out. I'm fulfilling my dream, playing for a championship."

May 30, 2011
Feeling the Heat


With the NBA Finals beginning tomorrow night, I'm predicting the Miami Heat prevail in six games - for these reasons:
* The NBA hasn't seen speed, athleticism and defensive intensity of this caliber since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. The combination of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and, now, Udonis Haslem, is simply suffocating. When they move the ball, push the pace and play with this degree of syncronicity, Erik Spoelstra's club is virtually unbeatable.
* A healthy Haslem and Mike Miller (outside shooting and rebounding) are providing the depth the Heat lacked throughout most of the season.
* Dirk Nowitzki is a future Hall of Famer, but who else scores for the Mavs?
* Based on sheer talent, the Heat-Lakers would have been a more compelling championship series ... if the Lakers hadn't lost their way and Phil Jackson hadn't gone off the reservation.
* The intangibles proabably - probably - favor the Mavs, mainly because of experience and Dirk Nowitzki's lengthy quest for a title. But, please, stop with the comparisons to Larry Bird. Bird was a far superior rebounder, passer, playmaker. We're talking one of the game's all-time greats here. That said, Nowitzki is a 7-foot phenom, and after the Mavs' previous failure in the Finals, he's driven to make the most of his opportunity.
* Rick Carlisle and Erik Spoelstra have distinguished themselves as young, willful personalities who emphasize defense and can overcome the challenges that usually occur during 82-game seasons. Carlisle has learned from a few bruises incurred during his previous tenure in Indiana and Detroit, while Spoelstra is benefitting from his pedigree (his father Jon Spoelstra was a longtime NBA exec) and Pat Riley's omnipresence. As Paul Westphal said a few months ago, Riley basically "pantsed" the league with his aggressive and successful pursuit of James and Bosh. And long before teams became infatuated with "analytics" in player evaluations, Riley quietly was crunching the numbers and outworking his opponents. He might even be a better personnel guru than coach. Who knew?
So back to Spoelstra. What other 40-year-old coach has handled so many challenges with so much aplomb?

I'm on vacation this week, but felt compelled to post a few comments about former WNBA star Marge Dydek, who died earlier today in Australia after suffering a heart attack a week ago.

The woman known affectionately around the the league as "Large Marge," stood 7-foot-2, finished her career as the WNBA's all-time leader in blocked shots, and confounded everyone around her with her reluctance to ... dunk. One of the nicest, most unassuming people in the game, Margo believed that dunking - which she would do with ease during warmups - humiliated her opponents. Her kindness probably was her biggest fault, in a competitive sense, because she never became the dominant figure that many predicted when she was drafted No.1 overall in 1998 by the Utah Starzz. I distinctly remember that Jerry Reynolds, the Monarchs general manager at the time, was desperately hoping Utah would draft Dydek so he could pluck Old Dominion point guard Ticha Penicheiro with the No.2 pick. They did. And he did. Ironically, Penicheiro led the Monarchs to the 2005 WNBA Championship in a compelling series against Dydek's Connecticut Sun. Margo was only 37 upon her death and coaching basketball when she was stricken a week ago. Compounding the sadness, she was pregnant with her third child.


Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News is reporting that Jerry West is joining the Golden State Warriors in an advisory role. West, of course, hardly needs much of an introduction. The Hall of Fame guard was a two-time Executive of the Year while running the Lakers (1982-2000) - a span that included seven titles. More recently, he headed basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies (2002-07), started a biography that was supposed to have been finished a years ago, bought some land in his native West Virginia, and attended the unveiling of his statue outside Staples Center.

West, of course, has been rumored to be joining the Warriors on several occasions in the recent past. But Kawakami is a great source on this. A former Lakers beat writer for the Los Angeles Times, he has maintained a strong relationship with the man known around the league as "The Logo." The connection reportedly is this: Warriors new assistant GM Bob Myers is a former agent who worked for Arn Tellem, the powerhouse agent who is tight with West. It was Tellem, by the way, who orchestrated the trade that sent Vlade Divac to the then-Charlotte Hornets for high school draftee and future superstar Kobe Bryant in 1996.

(And since Jerry West is one of our all-time faves, we won't remind anyone that he also engineered the Grizzlies "gift" of Pau Gasol to the Lakers. He had concluded that Pau was another European softie who would never reach his full potential).

In a minute, I will get to the Jim Les/Scotty Brooks connection here, but by way of background: Oklahoma City coach Scotty Brooks made an extremely gutsy (and rare) coaching move when he benched starting point guard Russell Westbrook for the entire fourth quarter of the Thunder's 2 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Westbrook, an immense talent who is still learning the balance between creating shots for himself and creating for others, was yanked after he committed a foul and his fourth turnover near the end of the third quarter. As he walked toward the bench, Brooks patted him on the back, but could be seen on camera telling his young star to "pass the ball." A visibly angry Westbrook responded - not clear what he said - and continued talking as he took a seat. Meanwhile, OKC held off the Mavs with Eric Maynor running the point.

So back to Les/Brooks: I finally caught up with new UC Davis men's basketball coach Jim Les a few minutes after the game. After we chatted about the Aggies for an upcoming column, I asked his thoughts about the decision by Brooks, another undersized point guard who made a nice living bouncing around the league. (Les gets props as both a former Kings reserve and Monarchs assistant).

"As a coach, you have to be true to yourself and true to your team," said Les. "You're not coaching one guy, you're coaching a team. It looked in that instance, he (Westbrook) wasn't willing to accept the coaching and stepped out of bounds. Absolutely, that's what it looked like. But if you have a problem, you want to express it in the locker room, not on the stage, not at that time. Scotty sent a message to his team. And there is no bigger message than coming out of there with a 'W.' ... I think coaches everywhere are smiling a little bit."

And Kevin Durant says ....

Any potential locker room issues resulting from the Westbrook benching were quashed by Kevin Durant mere seconds seconds after the buzzer. In an on-court interview with ESPN's Doris Burke, Durant quickly said he "wasn't surprised" by his coach's decision. Instead, the league's scoring leader praised Maynor for his floor game and for "getting everyone involved." In NBA parlance, that is a not-so-subtle dig at his starting point guard.

When the car gets dirty ...

Now that Les is back in the neighborhood, we should tell him about his former opponent's side business - Brooks and his family run Dribbles Car Wash in Manteca. Les and Brooks never played on the same NBA team, by the way, but also shared experiences in the World Basketball League and the now defunct Continental Basketball League.


At the season tickets holders viewing party earlier this evening at the Crest Theatre, I saw Jerry Reynolds and was reminded that he executed one of the Kings' best draft-day trades in the Sacramento: the swap that sent the No.3 overall pick (Billy Owens) to Golden State for Mitch Richmond in 1991. Reynolds duped Don Nelson on that one. While Owens had skills, size (6-foot-9) and tremendous length, he was one of those talented players who remain career underachievers. Richmond, of course, was among the league's premier scorers and the Kings' best player (of the Sacramento era) before being traded for ... Chris Webber. By the time Geoff Petrie traded his disgruntled veteran to the Washington Wizards, Richmond was a shell of a himself physically. (Petrie 1, Wes Unseld 0).


The kid scores twice for Cleveland

Was it possible for anyone not to be pulling for the Cavaliers after 14-year-old Nick Gilbert was introduced during the telecast? Forget the fact LeBron James dissed Cleveland last summer with his over-the-top "Decision" on ESPN. Cavs management had seven seasons to surround their superstar with a quality supporting cast and falied miserably. But when the little guy in the bow tie and black horned-rimmed glasses made his Lottery debut? Come on. Who didn't feel the tug on the heart? "Gavin called me later from (Secaucus, N.J.), and he said when he saw the kid walk up there, he knew it was all over," Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said good-naturedly a few hours after his club landed at No.7. "He stole America's heart, and then he went out there and beat everbody ... twice! I'm just glad that if somebody else was going to win besides us, that it was Cleveland." The dapper, diminutive Nick Gilbert suffers from a nerve disorder (Neurofibromatosis) that causes tumors to grow throughout the body.


Reynolds' take

Reynolds, who along with coach Paul Westphal represented basketball operations for the festivities at the Crest Theatre, summed up this year's draft accordingly: "It's not a deep draft. There are probably three to five players who could someday have an impact on the the NBA. But there are excellent role players and probably two to three players who will surprise you." Laughing, he added, "And there's probably another four to five players who won't be nearly as good as everybody thinks they are."

Quite the sight

Joe Maloof was a nervous wreck before the broadcast, but by the end of the evening, he was standing at the theatre exits, handing out T-shirts, signing autographs and posing for photos. "A few people even hugged me," the co-owner said, sounding surprised by the warm reaction from fans given the Almost Anaheim Arena Caper a month ago. "Everybody has been great to me. And the good thing about tonight .... nobody seemed devastated by the results. They're used to it by now (laugh). They know we're going to get a good player wherever we pick, or we're going to make a trade or something. Everybody trusts Geoff (Petrie)."

That first flight

Marcus Thornton made an appearance with his mother, Nancy West. The two flew in Monday from Baton Rouge, La. "This was my first flight in my 61 years," Ms. West said. "But it was nothing. It was really more boring than anything. I wasn't scared at all, and I'll be back. I'm going to come out here during the season and see my baby play."

The final word

Westphal, who seemed rested and relaxed after a grueling season compounded by the arena uncertainty, gets the final word. Asked whether team executives typically have hopes before the ping pong balls stop popping, he said, "Of course. It's like gamblers who get their hopes up when they roll the dice. But the odds are the odds. And hopes are not. It comes out the way it does and we'll deal with it."

The Kings improved their talent level immensely with their last two NBA lottery picks - at No. 4 and No.5 - Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins.

But then there's the one who got away. Geoff Petrie wanted Joakim Noah in the worst way in 2007, only to miss out on the Florida center by one spot. The Chicago Bulls selected Noah with the ninth pick, leaving the Kings with a choice between Spencer Hawes, Al Thornton, and not a whole lot more.

I was in New York covering the draft that year, and I remember talking to Petrie shortly after the festivities in Madison Square Garden. His disappointment was unmistakable during the phone conversation, though for obvious reasons, he tried to place a positive spin on the results.

The fact that the inexhaustible Noah was a huge Vlade Divac fan and admirer of the Webber-Divac-Bibby Kings, etc., only intensified his feelings.


While fighting the temptation to crown the Chicago Bulls as inevitable NBA champs following their dominating performance Sunday against the Miami Heat), some urges are just hard too resist, such as. This much can be said with certainty:
* The Bulls are not only the league's best defensive team, they are so fundamentally sound it's almost ridiculous. They block out, contest shots, almost instinctively cover for each other defensively, move the ball, and play with tremendous energy and intensity. TNT analyst Steve Kerr used the term "activity." Derrick Rose is the MVP, but the pieces simply fit, starting with center Joakim Noah.
* The 1-4 offensive set the Kings have utilized with Tyreke Evans isn't going to win a series for the Heat, either. Glad to hear Erik Spoelstra chiding his players for the one-on-one play during one of the timeouts.
* It's not the place, it's the management and players. Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni has to be wondering what he was thinking when he turned now the Bulls head coaching job for the allure of New York City. And other than weather, what's wrong with Chicago, anyway?
* Speaking of incredible crowds. The Bulls' fan support has been consistent and rabid for years. The old Chicago Stadium rivaled the Boston Garden and Portland's Memorial Coliseum as the loudest buildings in the league during the 1980s, and while the United Center is significantly larger, and fans aren't on top of the action like they once were, that place is deafening.
* The Oklahoma City Thunder followed the pattern favoring home teams in series-clinching games, but Lionel Hollins and his Memphis Grizzlies impressed. Hollins had an edge as a player, and as coach, that hasn't changed. Can't forget he was the coach who sent Allen Iverson off to Turkey because he told AI that (a) he wasn't going to be a starter and (b) he could deal with it or ... not.
* The Griz were so competitive, you almost forgot Rudy Gay was on the injured list.
* It will be interesting to see whether Scotty Brooks can convince Russell Westbrook to remember Kevin Durant in the upcoming matchup with the Dallas Mavericks. That's another thing about Rose. While he's definitely a "scoring" point guard, as opposed to a Steve Nash/Jason Kidd type facilitator, it never feels like he's dominating the ball.


I just heard from a Kings official who told me that because of logistical problems and limited seating (975 patrons) at the downtown Crest Theater, next Tuesday's NBA Draft Lottery party will only be open to season ticket holders. (Joe Maloof earlier in the day said he wanted the party open to the public). Fans can still get a taste of the event at nearby pubs and restaurants, but alas, beware of light rail. The public will be invited to an NBA Draft party next month, with details to come.


The Kings are planning to hold this year's NBA Draft Lottery event at the Crest Theater downtown, but since the facility has a capacity of 975, team officials are looking into the possibility of turning the event into a block party. Season ticket holders will be given first access to the seats - the organization's way of thanking them for investing in the season - but the event is open to the public. As of this afternoon, the Kings were trying to arrange for large screen televisions to broadcast the lottery both inside and outside the theater. TNT will broadcast the event live during halftime of the Western Conference semifinals between Dallas and the winner of the Oklahoma City/Memphis matchup. In the past two years, the Kings walked away with the fifth overall picks, and drafted Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins, respectively.


Joe and Gavin Maloof seemed visibly relieved - and even surprised - by their overwhelmingly favorable reception at Monday's rally/celebration at Cesar Chavez Plaza. I listened intently when the Kings co-owners were introduced and interviewed during the 5-8 p.m. downtown event, and heard only the slightest hint at boos. Considering that the family attempted to relocate the franchise to Anaheim only weeks ago, it would be fair to say that the crowd was more than a little kind. Joe was particularly anxious before the event got underway - and he looks like the stress cost him about 20 pounds - but appeared to have a great time once everything got started. Gavin noted that he addressed the organization's employees the other day and received a "standing ovation" at the end. "I couldn't believe it," he said. "I think the thing is, we just want to put the past behind us and more forward. This really is about a city and its love affair with a team. Believe me, there are better days ahead."


The many signs

Several fans brought signs with them, and one in particular summed up the sentiment and the situation. It read as follows: They Came. They Played. They Were Loved. They Stayed. (And) we need an arena."

Together again

Former Kings Bobby Jackson, Doug Christie and Scot Pollard were cheered enthusiastically. While watching Jackson and Christie chat privately behind the stage, I couldn't help remembering how their defensive tenacity solidified the Kings as contenders in 2000.


Because of his rare display (of late) of temper during Game Two of the Lakers-Mavs conference semifinals, the NBA suspended Ron Artest for Friday's game in Dallas. Officially, the league said the former Kings forward was being punished for "swinging his arm and striking the face" of Mavs backup point guard J.J. Barea. This seems like a pretty obvious call. Artest, who was clearly frustrated as the Mavs ran out the clock in last night's 93-81 win at Staples Center, appeared to deliberately belt Barea in a motion that was close to being a punch. Unfortunately for Artest - and the Lakers, who are down 0-2 in the series - his actions detract from what has been a pretty remarkable personality/attitude adjustment. He recently was named recipient of the Walter J. Kennedy Citizenship Award for his commitment to raising mental health awareness. Contractually, the Lakers owe him $6.7 milion next season, and if he picks up the player option for 2012-13, will pay him $7.3 and $7.7 million in the final two years of the deal.


Though he certainly has more important things to worry about with his Lakers losing to the visiting Dallas Mavericks in the opener of the conference semifinals, Phil Jackson told reporters before the game that he apologized to the Maloofs for comparing them to former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. Major League Baseball recently took control of the Dodgers because of McCourt's financial problems. Jackson, the longtime Kings nemesis who for a decade has enjoyed bantering with Sacramento fans, acknowledged that he sent a handwritten note of apology to the Maloofs during the first round series against New Orleans. "Yes, I had a gun at my head, but ..." Of course, he works for Lakers owner Jerry Buss, lives with Jeanie Buss, and therefore, has sort of a rooting interest in the matter. The idea of three teams in Southern California clearly was resisted by his boss and members of the league's relocation committee. But there also is this: Phil has always appreciated the folksiness of the capital city. He was born in Deer Lodge, Montana, and leaves Los Angeles as soon as the postseason ends. Asked what he thought of the announcement Monday that the Maloofs were remaining in Northern California, at least for another year, Jackson added, "I think it's great for the Sacramento fans."

After engaging in numerous conversations earlier today with members of the Maloof inner circle, it became pretty obvious that Joe and Gavin Maloof's stature as the oldest of the five siblings was a huge factor in the family's decision not to buck the league's opposition to a move to Anaheim.

One thing about the Maloofs - they try not to mess in each other's business. Matriarch Colleen oversees everything. George handles the Palms. Joe and Gavin - known within the league as "the boys" - run the Kings. And even though the family only half-jokingly refers to George as the brains of the empire, there are clear lines of who does what. And clearly, Joe and Gavin are much more connected to Sacramento than the other family members. The prospect of leaving was particularly wrenching for Joe, who during a conversation Monday afternoon, acknowledged that serious differences of opinion about the Kings existed within the family.


After engaging in numerous conversations earlier today with members of the Maloof inner circle, it became pretty obvious that Joe and Gavin Maloof's stature as the oldest of the five siblings was a huge factor in the family's decision not to buck the league's opposition to a move to Anaheim. One thing about the Maloofs - they try not to mess in each other's business. Matriarch Colleen oversees everything. George handles the Palms. Joe and Gavin - known within the league as "the boys" - run the Kings. And even though the family only half-jokingly refers to George as the brains of the empire, there are clear lines of who does what. And clearly, Joe and Gavin are much more connected to Sacramento than the other family members. The prospect of leaving was particularly wrenching for Joe, who during a conversation Monday afternoon, acknowledged that serious differences of opinion about the Kings existed within the family.

A few other tidbits that emerged from today's announcement and David Stern's press conference: (1) the league's intention to "substantially" increase revenue sharing in the next collective bargaining agreement was no small factor in the NBA's decision to nudge the Kings back to Sacramento; (2) if a public/private agreement on a new sports and entertainment complex isn't moving along by next March, Anaheim merely gets back in line with the other suitors for the Kings; and (3) Kevin Johnson's background as a former NBA All-Star can't be understated. Owners love star power, particularly when it involves one of their own. The mayor's impassioned presentation before the Board of Governors - and his persistent presence in Stern's ear leading up to the meetings two weeks ago in New York - cannot be overstated. Placing Ron Burkle in play - either as a potential owner of the Kings or owners or of a future NBA franchise in Sacramento - was huge.

Ultimately, though, this came down to the other owners' skepticism about the viability of a third team in Southern California, Stern's reluctance to relinquish the Sacramento market, KJ's power play, and the gut-check impact of the community's impact on Joe and Gavin Maloof. Joe Maloof hates it when we refer to him as "emotional," but the guy can't resist a tearjerker. And while George Maloof appears miffed about the latest developments, in a second conversation late Monday night, Joe Maloof sounded totally enthused about coming to town with Gavin on Friday and beginning a push for season ticket sales, sponsorships ... and a new arena that would enable the family to remain economically viable in Sacramento and compete with the other 29 franchises.

Stay tuned.


Although the Maloofs have until Monday to file an application to relocate to Anaheim, sources close to the family expect an announcement before the weekend. I also continue to hear that diverging opinions exist within the family - some wanting to sell, others determined to retain ownership even if that means returning to Sacramento and figuring out a way to handle the situation from a p.r. standpoint. Ultimately, this is Joe and Gavin's deal. Unless the Maloofs are totally broke - some sources insist they are, others insist they will recover nicely after restructuringing their debt at the Palms - the brothers probably make the decision. Also true: they have been stung and stunned by the resistance from the Board of Governors and what we're hearing from the Relocation Committee. They hate being portrayed and/or perceived as villains, and are reluctant to alienate their peers, especially given the labor situation and ongoing collective bargaining talks. The timing of this is really lousy, both for Sacramento and the league. The economy here - in the capitol of California - is only sniffing at recovery. The league is in the midst of collective bargaining talks and trying to completely restructure its business model. The quality of the game isn't exactly Larry-Magic-Michael caliber. And you want to abandon another proven market? Three years after the Sonics leave Seattle? Not cool. Potentially, this is a public relations disaster for the league.


There was plenty of television coverage of the Kings fans camping outside the St. Regis Hotel during the Board of Governors meetings on April 14-15. A week later, it turns out, another 15 or so Kings fans gathered outside the NBA's Olympic Tower headquarters again last Friday - basically to keep pressure on the league while the relocation committee was evaluating the situation in Sacramento. Najib Benouar, a Sacramentan living in New York, sent me a video of the noisy gathering. Najib also said that while there was no sign of Commissioner David Stern, other league employees came downstairs and said the group was a hot topic of conversation on the 15th floor.

Kings fans video:

Uncertainty about the Kings' future in Sacramento has prompted two of the organization's business vice-presidents to pursue (and find) jobs elsewhere.

Tom Hunt recently took a position with Ted Leonsis sports group in Washington, D.C.

Only days ago, Mitch Germann accepted a job with a global public relations firm in Seattle. Both were highly regarded inside and outside the organization.


I was off for a few days, but it's impossible to stay away from this Kings situation, especially with relocation chairman Clay Bennett and NBA legal consultant Harvey Benjaming coming to Sacramento Thursday and Friday. While there has been considerable angst about Stern's selection of Bennett to head the committee - this is owner who moved the Sonics from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008 after all - I would just say this: Stern is too smart to be so obvious. He is also an attorney. If he wanted to simply rubber stamp the Kings' relocation to Anaheim or elsewhere, he would have put someone other than Bennett to lead the study. And he never would have agreed to extending the deadline to May 2. Just my opinion. Just too logical.

Interestingly, the committee is dominated by small to mid-market owners, including Greg Miller (Utah), Glen Taylor (Minnesota), Herb Simon (Indiana), Peter Holt (San Antonio), along with Miami's Mickey Arison and Philadelphia's Ed Snider. Again, while owners of small-mid market teams are not inclined to vote against another small-market owner who wants to relocate, mainly because they want to retain the option of moving into a major market if their franchise is unable to sustain itself economically at some future date, I would revisit the "too smart to be so obvious" theme. There is probably a back story here with collective bargaining discussions ongoing and small-mid market owners demanding "substantial revenue sharing" - a much larger contribution from teams in Chicago, L.A., New York, etc. But the Kings/Anaheim situation is just too fluid and dynamic to say much of anything with certainty, except to say that these next several days will be very, very interesting. Folks within the Kings organization say they are starting to believe the team is coming back next year ...

The Kings' overtime loss to the Lakers earlier tonight started later than usual and ended with a few thousand fans lingering at Power Balance Pavilion (it's still Arco Arena to me) in a pretty remarkable scene. With everyone in the SRO crowd aware of the circumstances, namely, that the Maloofs are meeting with the the Board of Governors Thursday in an attempt to relocate to Anaheim, the atmosphere before, during and particularly after the overtime loss was emotional, raucous, often tearful. Numerous fans were seen crying, especially during the aftermath. Here are a few interesting tidbits that occurred after deadline:

• A few thousand fans lingered in the arena for about 45 minutes, chanting "Here We Stay" and "Sac-RA-men-to." The commotion carried into the tunnel area outside the visitors locker room, where Phil Jackson was conducting his postgame interview. With his familiar half-smile, half-smirk, Jackson acknowledged the chants and again praised the fans. At one point, a curious assistant coach (and one-time Kings coaching candidate) Brian Shaw moved into the tunnel area and asked, "What are they saying?" Told that it was the "Sacramento" chant, he smiled, and nodded.

• Led by Donte Greene, Jason Thompson, Omri Casspi, Pooh Jeter, Francisco Garcia and Marcus Thornton - hope I'm not missing anyone here - came back onto the court after the game to celebrate the fans. Greene and Garcia took the microphone, while Thompson, who signed autographs for a long time before the game, ran courtside, high-fiving and hugging fans. Garcia looked like he was ready to cry a number of times.

A short while ago on TNT's post-game show, analyst Chris Webber and cohorts Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley devoted an interesting (and potentially significant) segment to the Kings' possible relocation to Anaheim. I transcribed the tape and will include most of the conversation below, the significance of which includes this: Webber saying he is engaged in talks with individuals intent on keeping the Kings in Sacramento; Barkley (jokingly?) saying he will invest "$10-15 million" to assist; Smth, also a former King, saying that, on the Kings worst nights, the fans were as lusty as they were during the years they contended.

Though Webber refused to be specific on-air about the extent of his commitment, after making a few late-night phone calls, I reached original Sacramento Kings executive vice-president Greg Van Dusen, who offered a few specifics. According to Van Dusen, Webber is willing to facilitate a deal - headed by Roger Stewart of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to "restructure" the city's $77 million loan to the club. Van Dusen, who is working with Arco I and II architect Rann Haight.

"We've been working on this for about three months," said Van Dusen. "The idea is to relieve some of the financial pressure on the Maloofs and the ownership group. Roger had a very positive conversation today (Tuesday) with Chris, who isn't only interested in helping, he wants to lead the effort to keep the Kings here. He loves Sacramento and thinks this is where the Kings belong."

Although I was unable to reach Webber at his home in Atlanta late Tuesday night, I am aware that he has made overtures about buying into the Maloofs' majority ownership, but has been rebuffed. Anyway, until further clarification, here is the majority of the conversation on the TNT show. Smith starts off by declaring that Kings fans were the same when the team was 9-29 and when Webber led the team that contended during the 1999-2004 seasons:

Webber: "I didn't want to go there (Sacramento). I tried to run away from there. They still accepted me. I can't imagine what Sacramento would be like without basketball ... I hope we do not lose the team. I've been talking to people there. I know everyone thinks the team is gone, but I'm doing all I can to keep the team there. I may sound like a fool on national TV, but I'm working to do that. Other people are working to do that ... It's very selfish. I won't have a basketball home if Sacramento doesn't have a basketball team. I was talking to (former Sonics star) Gary Payton. He doesn't have his jersey hanging in any arena. There is no team in Seattle. Selfishly for myself, and for the fans in Sacramento ....

Ernie Johnson: "What are you doing (to further efforts)?"

Webber: "What am I doing? I'm trying to keep the team here. We don't want to talk about it, but ... what else am I supposed to do? I love this team. I still want to have a home in Sacramento. Hopefully it's not a lost cause. I love Sacramento."

Barkley: "You know, it's very frustrating to me because I love the city of Sacramento, and I've said before, they had the best fans in the NBA for a long time. I really like the Maloof brothers. I want to make that clear. But I'm very disappointed ... because they should have found a way to keep that team in Sacramento ... I agree with Chris. Even when the team sucked, they (fans) were great. I mean, they were raising hell every night. I've always had great respect for the Maloof brothers. They've always been great to me. I'm just disappointed they didn't try harder to make it work ... It's like they (NBA, owners) screwed Seattle. That place was crazy. But Sacramento ... I agree with both of you guys. You all were great when you weren't very good. It was all the same.That place was loud. I hate the fact they're leaving Sacramento."

Click here to view the TNT segment.

Per the upcoming schedule for the NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York, Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson said he is supposed to address the owners on Thursday "between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m." KJ sat courtside earlier tonight for the Kings' 120-112 loss to the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder.

Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof will be presenting their plan to relocate the Kings to Anaheim's Honda Center at some point Thursday. The deadline to file for relocation is April 18.

Although the timing of these situations tends to be fluid, Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof are expected to address the NBA Board of Governors regarding their plans to relocate the franchise to Anaheim at some point on Thursday.

The meetings are scheduled through Friday at the St. Regis Hotel in Manhattan.

Most of Friday supposedly is reserved for Stern to update the owners on the latest developments (or non-developments) regarding the league's expiring collective bargaining. A Kings spokesman indicated that all four Maloof brothers will be attending. The deadline for the Maloofs to file for relocation is April 18.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson also is traveling to New York and plans to lobby his city's case.


In an article posted earlier today in The Philippine Star, a columnist reported that a Filipino businessman is talking with the Maloofs about purchasing the Kings. Two things immediately struck me as not quite legit: the supposed $250 million sales price and the fact the businessman's identity was not revealed. Then, two sources totally quashed the deal - a high-ranking NBA executive who said he had not heard anything about this and Kings co-owner Joe Maloof, who texted that the entire matter was "ridiculous."

As the April 14-15 Board of Governors meeting (and that April 18 deadline to file for relocation) approaches, it will only get crazier. The Anaheim Royals? Doesn't quite grab you like Sacramento Kings, does it?

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

When I texted Kings co-owner Joe Maloof last night and asked if he planned to attend today's 5 p.m. "Here We Build" gathering at Cesar Chavez Plaza, his immediate response was a surprising "yes." I sent a second text a few minutes later to confirm, and this time he said he "might" make an appearance. Joe's presence would completely change the dynamic at the event, which is a grassroots attempt to keep the Kings in Sacramento long enough for the city and county types to produce an arena solution.

The Maloofs are in protracted discussions with Anaheim officials about a possible relocation to the Honda Center. They have to file relocation documents with the NBA by April 18.

Meantime, today's speakers are expected to include former Kings owner Gregg Lukenbill, county supervisor Phil Serna, city councilman Rob Fong, among others. If Joe Maloof showed, I can't imagine he wouldn't be handed the microphone, too.


Jim Thomas, the Los Angeles businessman who sold his majority interest in the Kings to the Maloofs effective July, 1999, attended tonight's Kings-Nuggets at Power Balance Arena. And how weird was this? Thomas sat in the courtside seats normally occupied by Joe and Gavin Maloof. When I caught up with Thomas in the tunnel at halftime, he managed to say he "wanted to see the team at Arco Arena (Power Balance) ...." before a Kings publicist intervened and abruptly said "no interviews." Not to put words in the gentlemanly Thomas' mouth, but it sure sounded like he was about to say .... "for one last time." Not that it's a secret. The Maloofs have indicated that their intentions to relocate the Kings to the Honda Center in Anaheim, where they would be known as the Royals.


GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Since arriving at spring training Sunday evening, I repeatedly have been asked for updates on the Kings' possible relocation to Anaheim. Sacramento's own Dusty Baker is the latest to inquire. Approached on the field a few minutes after his Cincinnati Reds dropped a 10-8 Cactus League outing to the A's, Baker immediately blurted: "The Kings aren't leaving, are they?"

"I've been following it (the situation)," said the Reds manager, whose family has had season tickets since the Kings arrived in 1985. His late father, Johnnie B. Baker, Sr., was a popular figure who ambled into the security entrance long before tipoff. He usually could be found chatting with ushers, security guards and many of the Kings players and executives he died in Nov., 2009. Dusty, who lives in Folsom during baseball's offseason, attended several games before spring training started.

"My son (Darren) is going to miss them if they go," Dusty continued. "He's just getting old enough to know all the players, getting into basketball. It'd be a big loss (if Kings relocated). What are you going to do in the winter? Some people go to 49ers games, Raiders games, Warriors games. But to be able to drive across town to see big league basketball ... your own team? (And) how many times can the Kings change towns?"

For the record: Since 1971, only one franchise in Major League Baseball has relocated - the Montreal Expos to Washington, D.C., in 2005.


I am watching the first half of the Kings-Timberwolves game before heading to the airport for a trip to spring training, and it struck me that the Kings probably should have watched Stanford's NCAA Tournament victory over UC Davis. Tara VanDerveer - who could coach in the NBA, by the way - received 28 assists from the Cardinal. Their ball movement against the Aggies was extraordinary. As for the Kings ... they have the halftime lead over the lowly Wolves, but way too much one-on-one. We've seen too much of that this season .... players going solo instead of performing like a team.

With the Kings' possible relocation to Anaheim still the hottest of local topics, former Kings and current Rockets Brad Miller and Kevin Miller chimed in with some pretty forceful comments after Monday's game. Both players referred to Sac as sort of an NBA destination city in the early to mid 90s, largely because of the team's success and the impassioned (if diminished of late) fan base.

First, from Miller, who lives here in the offseason because "it's my wife's dream house," on the possible move:

"It stinks. You think obviously, of when I got here (2003). Sacramento is one of those places ... the arena is what it is, but it is as loud as can be. It would be incredible for the city itself just to have a better venue for concerts and other events, give the area a little more prestigious feel. It's what, Power Balance now? It's changed a lot, but it would be so sad to see the Kings leave because I don't think they would ever get a team back out here."

Miller, who grew up outside Indianapolis, also dismissed the notion that All-Star caliber players aren't attracted to smaller and mid-size markets. "I came to Sac ... the Kings kind of jumped in at the last minute ... I was going to go to Denver, and my agent said at the last hour, "hey, Sacramento came up.' I thought, 'wow.' I had played out here, I knew how crazy it was. It drew me in just because the team was so good."

Now, from Martin, who welcomed his trade to the Rockets a year ago because his backcourt pairing with Tyreke Evans was an absolute non-starter, not because he had soured on the community: "Speaking as a player who played here for six years, I can relate to probably what the fans are relating to, to maybe losing the team. That would be really sad for a player like me, like Brad. We wouldn't even be able to come back here and play. I mean, we get excited to come back here and play because of the way the fans support us. It's like ... what's this city going to be without a professional team? Every time I come here I get a great response from the great. It gets me going me."

Asked how he envisioned the fan base in Anaheim, he laughed. "It won't be like Sacramento fans. If they end up there, or wherever they go. The fan base ... they got some work to do to get on the same level as Sacramento fans."

My colleague, Jason Jones, quoted former Kings coach and current Rockets coach Rick Adelman at some length in Tuesday's Bee, but after acknowledging that arena endeavors would have been easier if the club had won a championship or two, the Kings' all-time winningest coach added one final thought: "This city deserves a team."

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

Former Seattle SuperSonics center Jack Sikma, now an assistant with the Houston Rockets, says he's still upset about the Sonics' move to Oklahoma City in 2008. A member of the Sonics team Lenny Wilkens coached to the NBA Championship in 1978-79, he still lives in the Pacific Northwest during the offseason. For obvious reasons, he has been monitoring the Kings' potential move to the Honda Center in Anaheim.

"It's depressing, is still hard to believe Seattle doesn't have an NBA team," the seven-time All Star said before the Kings-Rockets game. "You don't think it could ever happen, especially with a good fan base, the size of the city. It came down to the arena, and in Seattle, there are two other major league sports teams (Seahawks and Mariners) who worked their way through stadium deals. That never happened with the Sonics. And it happened so fast. I don't know how long the process was here in Sacramento, but the original Sonics group of Howard Schultz started the process and it didn't go well. They put the team up for sale (after five years) and sold it to an out-of-town group (OKC's Clay Bennett) pretty quick. They made a run at it, but that was the only commitment they had - to make a run at it."

Sikma, who finished his career with the Milwaukee Bucks, said the league's departure "left a sour taste" and harmed the NBA's image in the region. "They have probably done a better job here in Sacramento, trying to work through the process, show that they are trying to keep a team here," he continued. "It seems like they're doing the same thing in New Orleans. But in Seattle ... it didn't feel right the way it went down. It was devastating to all the businesses nearby, the people who worked in Key Arena. The whole thing was just very depressing."

I spoke with Chris Webber a few minutes ago, and the longtime Kings star is really upset about the club's potential move to Anaheim. Speaking from his home in Atlanta, Webber's voice was almost shaking. I haven't heard him like this since he shredded his knee against Dallas.

"I was talking to Kevin McHale the other night," Webber said, referring to his TNT colleague and Hall of Fame forward, "and the thing about Sacramento ... it's not like Seattle, where they may get another team. I believe if we lost our team we will never see basketball in Sacramento. I know if we lose the Kings, we will never get one back. I don't want the team to go."

Webber, whose No.4 jersey hangs from the rafters in Arco, wouldn't say much more. But I got the sense that he was going to be burning his cell phones minutes trying to see if there's anything he can do.

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

After talking with Kings and league types over the weekend, I learned that one reason the Maloofs were reluctant to attend Monday's game was that they were fearful of opening their mouths - a common occurrence - about the arena situation.

NBA Commissioner David Stern has urged them to remain mum on the topic and their local handlers have advised them to stay away from Arco because they are famously accessible and accommodating to members of the media. Nonetheless, after being advised against doing so by some of their handlers, Joe, Gavin and George Maloof will be at the game. (I was told earlier that Stern threatened with a fine, but the Kings say this isn't the case.)

Joe tweeted that the information late Sunday morning. Interestingly, George Maloof, who runs the Palms resort in Las Vegas, has long been considered the family's most ardent supporter of having a franchise in Sacramento. He thinks this is a terrific market. Like I said. Interesting.

February 27, 2011
Maloofs will be there Monday

Joe and Gavin Maloof are going against the advice of their handlers by coming to tomorrow's Kings-Clippers at Arco Arena. Their p.r. people tried to convince them to stay away - not for fear of the fan reaction, but rather, for fear they would break their vow of silence and say something about the hush-hush arena negotiations that are ongoing with with officials in Anaheim. Internally, the debate persisted throughout much of the weekend. The co-owners - being the bosses - prevailed a few hours ago and tweeted that they will be in their courtside seats on Monday.

February 24, 2011
Amway Center tops the list ...

ORLANDO - I just spent a few hours touring the brand new Amway Center with Magic CEO Alex Martins and media director Joel Glass and came away beyond impressed. As I wrote hours earlier, I am preparing an in-depth article next week that addresses how the league's newest sports/entertainment complex was financed, the entitites and officials involved, why the process took 11 years to complete, etc. But for a quick peek: The arena is compact (built on nine acres), spectacular and functional. It is easily the standard for new NBA arenas, or as David Stern has said, for any new arenas around the world. When I arrived, the crew for Brad Paisley was hauling equipment into the locking docks, and the logistics seemed pretty easy - in the doors and right onto the stage. Before I return to Sacramento and start writing, here are a few facts:

• Opened in October 2010.

• Cost $385 million, $5 million in cost overrides paid by the club.

• Located in downtown Orlando, connected to the Church Street entertainment district.

• Owned and operated by the City of Orlando.

• Seating capacity of 19,000 can be expanded to 20,000

• Primary funding source: A one cent increase in tourism tax (from five to six cents); half of that additional center is designated for tourism

• The deal is three-pronged and includes the Amway Center, the Perforrming Arts Center and renovations to the Citrus Bowl.

• All signage and advertising within the arena is digital.

Ok, we'll offer Bee readers a closer look next week.

February 24, 2011
Amway Center on the agenda

ORLANDO - While our beat writer, Jason Jones, rejoins the team today in Charlotte, I am staying here for a better look at the brand new Amway Center. I set up interviews several weeks ago regarding the league's newest facility months ago, long before the threat of a Kings relocation became real. Magic CEO Alex Martins, a former team publicist who worked his way up and now basically runs the club, is meeting with me shortly. He promises a full tour of the premises. I'll offer a brief impression later - though I was there last night and already fell in love the place - and write an in-depth article next week.

February 23, 2011
In-game blog

Final: Kings 111, Magic 105

ORLANDO - There are plenty of distractions swirling around the Kings, but this was their best effort since the victory at Phoenix on Feb. 13. Maybe the Carl Landry trade shook up a few players? Regardless of the source of motivation, the Kings couldn't have played much better, or more collectively. Cut out some of the turnovers, and they walk out of their spectacular new arena with a victory. They passed the ball (30 assists), attacked the boards, challenged inside shots, really pushed the pace, and received strong performances from several players, among them Beno Udrih, Omri Casspi, Samuel Dalembert, Jason Thompson, Luther Head and Jermaine Taylor, the second-year guard who attended Central Florida and was playing in front of 20 or so friends and relatives. With 48.9 remaining, though, it was Thompson, who was shooting 63 percent from the line, who sank two free throws. After Hedo Turkoglu missed a three while defended tightly by Casspi, Head converted the clinching jumper from the right wing. The bench erupted like the Kings had won a title or something. Or something.

February 23, 2011
Arena chatter travels east

ORLANDO - The arena situation in Sacramento is generating an inordinate amount of attention here, largely because the Magic franchise was in a similar situation before an agreement was reached to built the brand new $380 million Amway Center. And, yes, Anaheim was the location of choice before the parties reached agreement on a public/private partnership. These past few hours, coaches, team officials, and even Magic players approached asked me for updates about Sacramento. There is definitely a sentime of "we know what it was like." For example, the Orlando officials at one point were involved with developer Stan Thomas, the old building was even smaller than Arco Arena, and small market issues still remain. I'll have a lot more about this gorgeous facility in the near future. I'm staying here an extra day so I can get a tour of the arena from Magic CEO Alex Martins and speak with the people who led the successful effort..


Photo credit: Kings Carl Landry during the introduction of the starting lineup.

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

MIAMI - Kings forward Carl Landry was held out of Tuesday's night game against the Miami Heat because there is a strong likelihood that he will be traded to the New Orleans Hornets within the next 48 hours. "We are involved in some fairly significant discussions and thought it was prudent not to play him tonight," coach Paul Westphal said after the Kings' lopsided loss.

Landry, who was obtained from the Houston Rockets in the Kevin Martin deal Feb. 18 last year, left with the team from American Airlines Arena. He became suspicious in the second half when he was still on the bench, but wasn't told until Westphal approached him after the game.

The Kings reportedly will get shooting guard Marcus Thornton and center David Andersen in return.

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

First quarter: Heat 35, Kings 16

MIAMI - This was the Heat at its best - defending, rebounding, running the break, spreading the floor.

Dwyane Wade, who tweaked his right ankle Sunday in the All-Star Game in Los Angeles, showed no effects of the injury. He elevated for a follow dunk with 5:42 remaining in the period. And LeBron James, who had a triple-double Sunday, scored 14 quick points, including a driving layup at the buzzer.

The Kings shot a miserable 29.2 percent in the period, with DeMarcus Cousins struggling through an 0-for-6 start.

Led by James, who hit on seven of his 11 field goal attempts, the Heat converted 72 percent of their attempts. And blocked shots. And intimidated underneath. And moved the ball. This is going to be a long night.

Halftime: Heat 63, Kings 44

The Kings are getting spanked pretty good here, and it's interesting that Carl Landry failed to make an appearance.

He walked to the scorer's table after a timeout with about six minutes until intermission, but never took off his shirt. With the trade deadline approaching, this makes you wonder if the Kings are close to finalizing a deal.

Landry, who has value both as a player and an expiring contract, has been the subject of trade conjecture for the past several days.

Meantime, this was a gruesome half for his mates. The Kings were out-rebounded, were dominated inside, and as often happens when the open shots aren't falling, they were impatient and forced too many shots.

The starting backcourt of Beno Udrih and Jermaine Taylor combined for five points and one assist. Samuel Dalembert came off the bench and was by far the Kings' most effective player with eight points and nine rebounds. And I didn't keep count, but the Heat scored an inordinate number of step-back jumpers, most by Wade and James (21 points), and finished with 13 fastbreak points.

Third quarter: Heat 93, Kings 70

Dwayne Wade and LeBron James are still playing like they had the weekend off. Their stamina is incredible. They show no signs of easing up, either, despite the fact the Kings are totally outclassed.

DeMarcus Cousins is really struggling. He was stripped at the top of the circle, had a number of shots blocked, even botched an alley oop to Jermaine Taylor with just under six minutes remaining. Yet, again, the Kings are getting clocked and there's still no sign of Carl Landry. Think trade.

Final: Heat 117, Kings 97

This was an eventful evening, if nothing else. A few hours after learning that Tyreke Evans would be sidelined for at least three weeks with plantar fasciitis, the Kings became the first post-All-Star victim of LeBron James, Dwyane, Chris Bosh and the rest of the Miami Heat. James and Wade ran through, around, and over the Kings. They were merciless.

Their coach, Erik Spoelstra, has been carping about the defense. Well, there was nothing wrong with the Heat defense tonight. They held the Kings to 35 percent shooting in the opening half and were equally dominant in the second half.

They reached the 100-point mark on a jumper by Wade with just over nine minutes remaining. (One scout seated at the press table estimated the Heat ran 50 different plays).

And, yes, the Kings acknowledged that they kept Carl Landry out of the game because a trade is pending.

On Twitter:


LOS ANGELES - There was too much information to cram into tomorrow's column about the Kings' possible relocation to Anaheim's Honda Center, but as of late Saturday, the basics remained unchanged. NBA Commissioner David Stern for the first time confirmed what we all knew - that the Maloofs have explored a move to Southern California, a process that has been on and off for the past few years. The Commissioner insisted that he has distanced himself from these particular discussions, however, partly because he is immersed in gnarly collective bargaining talks.

I also get the sense that while the league probably would approve the move, the higher-ups aren't thrilled about the prospect of (a) abandoning the 20th largest media market; (b) adding a third NBA team in Southern California and (c) having to deal with all this with a lockout looming.

A few other items of note:

• While the deadline to file for relocation for next season is March 1, the league is flexible. The Maloofs could simply request an extension, and the Board of Governors would comply.

• When one NBA executive was asked late Saturday about Sacramento's chances for retaining the Kings, he replied, "It could be bad."

• The situation has intensified quickly, as often happens in these situations. The Maloofs have been approached by officials from Anaheim, Las Vegas, San Jose, Kansas City, St. Louis - on and on - for the past few years. (Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman never takes off the fullcourt press). The Samueli group in Anaheim has been almost as aggressive ... and they actually have a building. Until very recently, however, the Maloofs have swallowed their frustration about the arena situation and the region's economic limitations and judged Sacramento preferable to the alternatives. Common sense dictates that with the deadline approaching, Anaheim would sweeten the offer. The question is how badly the Maloofs want to be romanced. Again, as of late Saturday, I was hearing that they were teetering ... the situation incredibly fluid.

• Stern provided another chilling moment for Kings fans during the televised press conference when he was asked by an Italian journalist if the league considered purchasing Seattle's Sonics - precluding their relocation city in 2008 - much as was done recently with the New Orleans Hornets. Later in a lengthy response, the Commissioner added, "Seattle was a completely different story. Everyone agreed, it needed a new building; a new building couldn't be built, and the ownership decided to move it out. That's all. I'll introduce you to Ailene (said Bee columnist) from Sacramento, though." The linkage of Seattle and Sacramento? Think that was a message?

LOS ANGELES - While sports conspiracy theorists will argue that DeMarcus Cousins should have been voted MVP of the Rookie Challenge on Friday, or at least, co-MVP with his former Kentucky teammate John Wall, the Kings center (and their fans, owners, etc.) should be encouraged by his powerful performance. The guy was a beast - skillful, but still a beast. It was obvious from the opening tip that Cousins was determined to capitalize on his opportunity in the national spotlight, perhaps his way of countering the bad publicity of the recent week. There were the three steals, 14 rebounds, and 33 points, and my favorite play: the pass he threw off the backboard to a trailing John Wall for the game's final points. Imagine if he had the body of a 22-23 year old? The conditioning habits of a Doug Christie? If the Kings learned to move the ball and/or acquired more capable balll movers? The combination of Cousins' all-around big man's skills and Tyreke Evans' powerful game would be scary. Scary good.

One other interesting tidbit I picked up while chatting with Cousins and his other former Kentucky teammate, Eric Bledsoe. The Clippers backup point guard admitted that he would have stayed in college for his sophomore season if he had fully appreciated the rigors of the NBA. Cousins, seated along Bledsoe, seemed surprised by his friend's reply. Asked the same question, he hedged. He definitely did not seem excited by the prospects of hitting the books for a second year in college. But he thoroughly enjoyed being in Bledsoe's company. The two joked about a relationship that goes back to their high school years in Alabama, and when Bledsoe said that he and Wall enjoyed throwing alley oops to Cousins, the Kings rookie laughed. "Didn't see too many of those 'oops.' "

A final thought about Cousins: While Kings beat writer Jason Jones and I were talking the other day, he mentioned that when he visited Mobile, Ala., last summer for a profile on the rookie's hometown, he was surprised to learn that DeMarcus was friendly with many of the kids still attending his old high school. Again, at age 20, he is only two years removed from his days as a prep superstar.

February 19, 2011
Reggie was robbed ...

LOS ANGELES - While the Hall of Fame nominations always lead to interesting conversations regarding who was selected - and who was omitted - for my two cents, the most glaring omission was former Indiana Pacers guard Reggie Miller. I guess I'm just partial to players who spend their entire careers with one franchise (and a small-market franchise at that), provide some of the most thrilling finishes in postseason history (Knicks-Pacers, Game 5, 1994 Easte4rn Conference Finals), rank second in three-point field goals behind only Ray Allen, etc. Ok, so as his former coach/boss Larry Bird used to joke, Reggie was a ridiculously poor rebounder (3.0 boards per game) for someone 6-foot-7. But again, he was a career 39.5 percent shooter from three-point range, and his proficiency beyond the arc in 1997-98 (42.9 percent) is one those stats that can't be ignored.

Justin Bieber? Huh?

With so many events, press conferences, technology conferences, etc. competing for attention this weekend - and the labor issue will be front and center before the Slamdunk contest and Long Distance Shootout get underway Saturday - we should all be grateful to ESPN for staffing the event and then actually showing footage of Justin Bieber's exploits in Friday's celebrity game. The little lefty was certainly MVP worthy with his ball handling skills, three-point shooting, playmaking, and all-around skill level. Who knew?

Finally, from Dirk

So maybe this means Dirk Nowitzki is becoming sort of hip in his old age? When asked who he would choose to portray him in a movie about his life, he replied, "Woody Harrelson." This has to be considered progress. In his younger years, remember, Dirk revealed that he was a big fan of David Hasselhoff's (gulp) singing,

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

Not that $41,000 is chump change, even for millionaires. But keeping DeMarcus Cousins home while the Kings played Sunday in Phoenix - then fining him the equivalent in salary - seems like a pretty equitable resolution for the rookie's latest transgression. For those who might have been preoccupied with other matters these past few days, Cousins was upset that Donte Greene inbounded the ball to Tyreke Evans instead of finding him in the low post on the final possession in Saturday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Cousins reportedly complained to Greene as they walked off the court, and after the conversation escalated in the locker room, blows were exchanged. Earlier today, Cousins and his agent, John Greig, met for 90 minutes with Petrie. Bobby Jackson and Shareef Abdur-Rahim also were in attendance. Cousins flew to Oklahoma City afterward and rejoined the team for the final two games of the road trip.

Along with the fact Greene was not punished for his part in the fisticuffs - Petrie felt no action was necessary after investigating the matter - the other thing I found interesting was his response when I asked about anger management counseling. Petrie said Cousins was not in therapy, but didn't discount treatment as a suggested course of action in the future.

Ok, so now that the latest episode of Saturday Night Fights is over, can't the Kings just get along? And pass the ball more than once in a while?

After speaking with NBA types and ruminating about Jerry Sloan's abrupt resignation, I wanted to add a few additional thoughts that didn't make into my column in today's Bee. Probably the first thing that struck me was this: The common element between the NBA's most successful small-market franchises (San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz) is the presence of a dynamic, forceful, intriguing head coach, who is empowered with decision-making over who plays and who stays, and who essentially is the face of the franchise. For decades. Gregg Popovich and Jerry Sloan.

The hip, handsome Greg Miller, son of the late Larry Miller, the rotund, offbeat Jazz owner who used to retrieve balls for players and participate in pregame huddles, has no clue about the ramifications of Thursday's actions. First of all, Larry Miller, who tussled all the time with the stubborn Sloan, never would have allowed the situation to escalate to this point where a star player (Deron Williams) behaves in a manner that offends his coach and disrupts a locker room. The biggest joke of all? That Williams would complain that the Jazz offense is predictable and therefore ineffective?

Geez, I spoke to a handful of NBA coaches tonight and oher NBA types, and the consensus was that Don Nelson, Rick Adelman, Jerry Sloan and Phil Jackson were the most innovative offensive coaches of the the past few decades. All stress ball movement, body movement, screens, spacing, tempo, and, to varying degrees, pushing the ball for transition or early offense opportunities. We witness the alternative too often: the NBA's current epidemic of coddling point guards who overdribble, think games (and titles) are won with isolation plays, and consequently, alienate their teammates.

When the Jazz were here Monday night for what proved to be Sloan's final career coaching victory, I watched Tyreke Evans drive - yet again - into a crowd during a critical late game possession, and wondered what Sloan (or Popovich or Jackson) would have done. Actually, I knew the answer. Popovich yanked Tony Parker and Jackson scolded Kobe for similar transgressions committed during their first few years, and Sloan was similarly hard on Williams during his rookie season. Paul Westphal is a different cat; he looks the other way and barks at DeMarcus Cousins for some minor infraction. The upshot is this: Parker absorbed the constructive criticism and developed into one of the league's premier point guards and, more importantly, into an NBA champion. Kobe became more of a team player and, well, became Kobe. Williams overcame early struggles and showed tremendous improvement in his second season, yet seemed to hit a plateau, never quite establishing himself as someone capable of leading a championship squad.

Seriously. To complain about an offense that keeps all five players involved, stresses movement, outside shooting, pacing, spacing, transition opportunities and unselfishness? Folks, we are talking about an offensive scheme that has flourished since World Wars I and II. Sloan's teams run, pass, dunk, move the ball. What's not to like? The game has become quicker, the players more skilled and athletic, but the basic concepts haven't changed.

Sloan - a Hall of Famer, a great guy, the longest tenured coach in professional sports - deserved better. Larry Miller never would have allowed this to happen. His son screwed up big time. And, hey, just curious: What exactly was Andrei Kirilenko doing in the room with Sloan, Miller and GM Kevin O'Connor after Wednesday's loss to Chicago? Were they talking team dynamics? Discussing the Williams flap? Or a major trade? Something dramatic certainly occurred, details surely to be revealed in the near future. Meantime, all the best to Jerry Sloan. He was one of the good guys, and one of a kind.

Good luck to Ty Corbin

Lost in the commotion of Sloan's abrupt announcement was the fact that NBA journeyman and longtime Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin is given his first head coaching opportunity. First of all, good luck to Ty, a former King who played or studied under some of the best coaches in the league - Lenny Wilkens and Sloan among them. He probably has the worst job in the league, to be honest. How do you replace an icon? But he has always impressed with his smarts, commitment and work ethic; even the Jazz and Spurs' pregame workouts are noteworthy because of their structure, intensity and consistency, and the sight of Ty workng up a sweat while directing the shooting drills.

So did we mention what a softie Sloan is?

Those of us who covered the NBA throughout the 1980s and 90s, covering Sloan during his NBA Finals defeats and disappointment at being bypassed for the U.S. Olympic coaching assignment in 2000 will always appreciate his honesty, wry humor, and especially the dignity he displayed during his late wife Bobbye's bout with terminal cancer. Though a private, even shy person, Sloan shared the family's struggles (at Bobbye's urging) in efforts to combat the disease. He often choked up when talking about his late wife, and I noted, his eyes swelled with tears during his press conference Thursday. Just wondering: Does Deron Williams have any idea of how poorly he will be perceived if (a) the franchise falters or (b) he bolts during free agency in 2012? Small markets have to try harder, and be particularly careful when selecting family members. Sloan and Popovich established the standard. The debate regarding Kevin O'Connor's decision to draft Williams over Chris Paul just reached another level.

I'll have more on Jerry Sloan's resignation in tomorrow's Bee, but it's worth mentioning that his last victory as a head coach was Utah's 107-104 win over the Kings on Monday at Arco Arena. Interestingly, Arco is also the place where Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton played his final game.

What comes as absolutely no surprise is that Sloan's longtime assistant - and former Kings head coach - Phil Johnson resigned as well. Sloan and Johnson were the NBA's version of an old married couple. They were inseparable, even after 23 years. One-time Kings swingman Tyrone Corbin steps into Sloan's massive boots immediately.

February 8, 2011
Welcome back, Peja

While chatting with Peja Stojakovic Tuesday afternoon as he was trying to find his way to the airport for the Dallas Mavericks' flight to Sacramento, I was reminded of what a delightful character he is. If anything, the former Kings star was probably too amiable for his own good. He could have been ... so much more aggressive! But as readers will see in Wednesday's Bee, an older, wiser, reflective Peja was surprisingly candid about how the devastating knee injury he sustained while playing for PAOK in 1997 affected his NBA career, physically and mentally. As explained by Scott Skiles - his coach in Greece at the time - details about the compound fracture, with the shin bone breaking through the skin, etc., are just too gruesome to elaborate upon in print. But in Wednesday's column, Peja talks about how the career-threatening injury (that required insertion of his rod to stabilize the leg) forced him to compensate and make adjustments in everything from his shooting mechanics to his running motion, thereby putting undue pressure on his other leg, his lower back, his shoulders, etc. He also admitted that the injury was always in the back of his mind, which affected his confidence, and at least partly explained why he increasingly avoided contact under the basket.

While going back over the numerous profiles and columns I have written about him over the years, dating back my trip to Greece in 1998 (actually, I attended the private workout with Peja and Zydrunas Ilgauskas in Chicago before the 1996 NBA Draft, when Peja basically swung heads his way with his deep shooting), I came across a few other things of interest.

• For those who might have forgotten: Stojakovic, 33, is a Serb who was born in Pozega, a city that became part of Croatia after the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. At age 15, in the midst of the Balkans conflict, he moved to Thessaloniki in northern Greece, where he was legally "adopted" and became a Greek League MVP for PAOK. (One of his coaches, Zvika Sherf, later coached Omri Casspi in Israel).

• His legendary offensive abilities were such that, according to former PAOK general manager Steve Costalas, the favorite sports joke among Greeks went as follows:

"What is an assist?"

"When Peja passes from his right hand to his left."

"What is the cross offense?"

"When someone gives the ball to Peja and everyone crosses themselves."

• Peja was a huge fan of rap music and Mafia movies, and according to his PAOK teammates, fancied himself quite the dancer.

• During his years with PAOK, he was mentored by former Syracuse star and Greek League veteran Conrad McRae, who died shortly thereafter of cardiac arrest. As the good-natured McRae told me at the time, "He's a fun-loving kid. Sometimes people forget how young he is. And he wants to know everything. 'What is Michael (Jordan) like? What is Scottie (Pippen) like? Tell me about the NBA.' "

• His brother, Nasha, underwent a kidney transplant while living in Sacramento and continues to reside in the area.

Anyway, read more in Wednesday's Bee about one of the league's most prolific long-range shooters - think Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, Larry Bird, Drazen Petrovic, Dale Ellis, Chris Mullin - as he returns to Arco Arena in what could be his final appearance in Sacramento. Peja would like to play another season, but is noncommital until he sees how his body (leg surgery, knee surgery, back surgery, abdominal strain) withstands the final months of the current campaign. Since missing two months (knee surgery), Peja obtained a buyout with the Toronto Raptors and made his Mavs debut on Monday. He is listed among the starter's for tonight's Kings-Mavs match. And lest we forget, he not only was a three-time All-Star with the Kings, he was the starting small forward on the 2002 Yugoslavian national team that stunned the United States (and Argentina) in the World Championships in Indianapolis. That, folks, was history. No American team had lost a game in international competition since Larry, Magic, Michael and the other Dream Teamers coasted through the competition at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

While speaking with several sources the past few days for yet another in an ongoing series of columns on Sacramento's need to replace Arco Arena and somehow find a way to finance a new sports/entertainment complex for the region, I was intrigued by plans in Minneapolis for a $155 million renovation of the Target Center. As I write in Friday's Bee, the city and the Timberwolves are pushing a private/public partnership, and for several reasons, renovation seems to make more sense than gutting the structure and rebuilding. Though the facility was built in 1990 - two years after Arco - it was built for almost twice the price, and in terms of square footage, is almost twice the size. In other words, it was built to last, built to expand, and built for the future. Though never a huge fan of the building itself -and the visitors locker room is horrendous, much worse than Arco - I was sold on location, location, location.

Downtown Minneapolis is a vibrant, manageable urban center, and the presence of the Target Center, which transformed the seedy warehouse district, is a huge factor in all of this. Shopping, restaurants, light rail, hotels, the theatre district ... all within walking distance and physically and geographically connected. Great, great city. Great, great vibe. You can stay at any number of hotels and be within blocks of the arena. (Many of the hotels and shopping areas are conneced to the Target Center by interior walking corridors because of the brutal winters.) I haven't even seen the Twins new ballpark yet, but colleagues tell me that it only enhances one of our favorite downtowns.

I'm not sure what will come out of Tuesday's City Council meeting - and I'm hoping the Council remains open to all possibilities - but every time I visited Minneapolis, I always envisioned a Target Center-type entertainment district displacing the blight on K Street and the struggling Downtown Plaza. Somewhere downtown for sure.

Of course, the question remains: who pays for the complex? I was somewhat surprised to see that Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor was listed on Forbes list of the wealthiest NBA owners and one of its billionaires. The Maloofs aren't in the same league. But I'll say it again: There is allure to the fact that Sacramento is the capitol of California. Time to be innovative ... find some source of financing.


February 2, 2011
Celtics finally make it home

The storms that have been causing travel headaches throughout the country forced the Celtics to remain in Sacramento after Tuesday's victory over the Kings. The original plan had been to fly back to Boston immediately after the game. But as of late Tuesday night, there was some concern that the return flight could be delayed even longer. But I just received a text a few minutes ago from longtime Celtics publicist Jeff Twiss. He said the C's landed at about 7:30 East Coast time.

Kings color analyst Bill Walton, who filled in for Boston Celtics commentator Tommy Heinsohn for the final three games of the recently-concluded road trip, isn't really going out on a limb when it comes to his NBA Finals predictions. He sees another Boston vs. Lakers matchup. The Big Fella formerly known as the Big Redhead (his hair is gray now) - has a vested interested in this, of course. He won a title with the 1986 C's, and his son, Luke, plays for the Lakers. But as always, Walton offered interesting observations Tuesday night in Arco Arena.

"When you hit the high they (Celtics) were on Sunday, that's the kind of thing that springboards you to the championship," Walton said, referring to Boston's convincing victory at Staples Center. "That game could very well be the championship for the Celtics. The championship is going to be between the Celtics and the Lakers. Those are the two best teams. San Antonio and Miami are good, but not as big and tough and rugged. Whoever (Celts or Lakers) has the homecourt advantage is going to win the championship. That's why the regular season is so important."

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

I screwed up. There is no other way to say it. In Thursday's column about Carl Landry, in which the Kings forward discussed his frustrations with the team's disappointing season, I relied heavily on my written notes and messed up one of his quotes.

After Landry complained publicly that he was misrepresented, I compared my written notes with my tape-recording of the interview and immediately recognized a discrepancy in one particular paragraph.

Accuracy in our industry is everything. These were supposed to be his words, not mine.

What I quoted him saying was: "The basketball IQ on this team is not very good," Landry said, "and that (knowledge) takes time. If you look at J.T. (Jason Thompson), he's had three or four coaches in his four years, coaches that probably weren't that good. Everybody in this league can play. But it's about spacing, having the right guys on the floor, running the right play. Move the ball. Set back screens, down screens, and play together. Our shooting percentage is so low because everything is one-on-one."

What he actually said was: "If you look at the last couple years ... Jason Thompson has been here for three years. He's probably had about three or four coaches in the last three or four years, coaches that actually, probably, weren't very good. That's why they're not here. So the knowledge, the basketball IQ of this team is probably not where it needs to be."

Later, he also said: "Everybody in this league can play. But it's about spacing, having the right guys on the floor, running the right play. Move the ball. Set back screens, down screens, and play together. Our shooting percentage is so low because everything is one-on-one."

As I tried to illustrate in the column, this was not an angry diatribe. I called to apologize Friday but was told by a Kings media representative that Landry wants to drop the matter and move on.

Nonetheless, my apology stands. I can keep learning, keep striving, and say I'm sorry when I have made a mistake.

January 21, 2011
Peja heading to Dallas?

According to ESPN.com, former Kings star Peja Stojakovic, who was waived by the Toronto Raptors, is close to signing with the Dallas Mavericks. This would be a good move for Peja, a three-time All-Star who has been hampered by injuries virtually since he was traded for Ron Artest (2005-06) and wants to end his NBA career in a positive manner. A three-time All-Star and one of the nicest people in the league, Peja has never played an entire 82-game season. He overcame a frightening and career-threatening compound fracture in his right leg before signing with the Kings in 1998 - his former coach at PAOK (Scott Skiles) described the scene as bloody horrific - but his chronic lower back problems, in particular, have limited his mobility since his final season in Sacramento. A finesse player and exceptional shooter, Peja was at his best when he was moving freely, cutting underneath, running the baseline, and sprinting downcourt for pullup three's and layups. Guess his physical breakdown shouldn't be a complete surprise given that he started playing professionally at age 15 back in his native Serbia, and then Greece.

While Kings rookie Hassan Whiteside had an altogether miserable (and unproductive) experience with the Developmental League's Reno Bighorns - essentially the farm team of the Kings and Warriors - Golden State's Jeremy Lin and former King Marcus Landry are making the most of their opportunity. The teammates shared honors as D-League co-performers of the week.

Lin, the Bay Area native and Harvard grad who signed a guaranteed contract with the Warriors, is averaging 19.1 points, 4.9 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 31 minutes. He also is shooting 52 percent - very impressive for a point guard. Landry, the Kings training camp invitee and brother of Carl, is contributing 17.3 points and 4.0 rebounds.

But, hey, you just can't escape. The Bighorns, who have won four straight and are in third place in the Western Conference, are coached by former Kings/Warriors coach Eric Musselman. And, of course, Reno's minor league franchise once was coached by Eric Musselman's late father, Bill Musselman.

January 18, 2011
Kings urged to "chew" on it


Longtime Kings special assistant Pete Carril always has something interesting to offer, whether it's while analyzing a player's skill set, assessing team dynamics, or explaining how something as basic as the size of a player's hands and feet can affect their ability to shoot the ball or maneuver in the post. The latest Carril-ism was even more basic: When thirsty, chew gum. While working with rookie Hassan Whiteside, who doesn't have great stamina, Carril urged the young center to take water breaks to stay hydrated. And while playing or practicing .... chew gum. "That creates fluid," the legendary Carril said, imitating the chewing motion, "and that will help. And when you're thirsty, go get a drink of water. There's nothing wrong with that." The gum thing. Very Interesting. That never would have occurred to me. Such are the benefits of being in the presence of legends ...

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

Responding to a column in Monday's Orange County Register suggesting that the Maloofs are entertaining offers to relocate the franchise to Anaheim because of the region's inability to provide a modern entertainment complex to house the Kings, co-owner Joe Maloof said: "We are looking at all options to ensure the long term viability of this franchise. We're looking at all our options. Of course you're going to look at your options! We're businessmen. We've been at this for 10 years without any (arena) success."

In a calmer voice, the most emotional of the Maloofs acknowledged that he "receives calls every day" from representatives in other cities and insisted "nothing has changed."

"There is a sense of urgency because we've been at this for so long," he said from his cell phone. "We can't sugarcoat it. Everybody knows the region needs a new arena. When the NCAA (Tournament) is refusing to schedule events in Sac, you have to acknowledge that you need an entertainment venue. I can't give you a time table, but at some point, something has to get done. (Sacramento) mayor Kevin Johnson is working with four different groups, looking at four plans, and we're hoping something comes out of this. We want to be right here in Sacramento. We've always said that. It's been what? Eleven years? Rumors, rumors, rumors. I get tired of answering all these questions. Can't we just talk about how much better DeMarcus Cousins is getting?"

The relocation chatter was revived late last week amid reports that two private firms are negotiating to buy controlling interest in the Palms Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, leading to speculation that the Maloofs are in financial trouble. Joe Maloof said the family is "restructuring" their financial obligations at the family-owned casino, then added, "We will still own the Palms. We're just refinancing like everybody else in Vegas is doing. The economy has hit Vegas hard. But we'll come out of this in a better position than we were. It's nothing more than that, believe me."

In another development, sources close to the situation confirmed the Kings are on the verge of announcing a new multi-year naming rights deal. In other words, Arco Arena won't be Arco Arena much longer. Asked to provide details, Joe Maloof would say only, "I can't talk about that right now. You'll just have to wait. But everybody is going to be surprised."

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

If anyone could have predicted that Steve Nash was going be a perfect 8-for-8 while providing his usual brilliance (12 assists) running the Suns offense, rational minds would have predicted another Kings loss. Well, Nash was brilliant. He distributed 12 assists and grabbed four boards. He scored 20 points on a variety of shots - three's off one leg, pullup jumpers, and one ridiculous, high-arching reverse layup. But in spite of his spectacular effort, the Kings dominated the final period, controlled the boards, and won a second consecutive game on their home court.

DeMarcus Cousins makes his own point

The rookie center had an excellent all-around game with a career-high 28 points, eight boards, and six assists. Touch passes. Bounce passers. Quick-hitters to cutters. All were on display, as was my personal favorite: a skip pass from the left side to Omri Casspi in the right wing for a crucial three-pointer in the fourth. Cousins really sees the floor, and equally important, he enjoys finding open teammates. I am really curious to see how Paul Westphal incorporates Cousins' exceptional passing skills, from both the high and low posts, as the season moves along. An overdose of isolation play and sluggish pacing only sends fans reaching for their remotes and heading for the exits.

A few notables off from Sunday's 94-89 victory

• Carl Landry (12), Cisco Garcia (11) and Casspi (10) were the main contributors in the Kings' 60-32 advantage on the boards, and not surprisingly, on the floor for the deciding moments of the fourth.

• In another indicatiion of how quickly he is developing, Cousins earned his fifth foul with 7:31 remaining but didn't foul out and made several key plays down the stretch.

• This might have been a first: Paul Westphal left Tyreke Evans on the bench and went with rookie Pooh Jeter for the closing stretch. (Beno Udrih was unavailable after bumping knees with Nash in the third period). Westphal said he felt the players who initiated the rally deserved the chance to finish the game. Evans struggled, who is contending with plantar fasciitis, finished with six points (2-for-12) and had four turnovers to go with five assists. But while the Kings were taking over the game, the second-year star was standing near the bench, cheering, waving his towel, and in general, just being a good teammate. His mother (Bonita) and grandmother (Alice) were so excited at the final buzzer, you never would have known Tyreke had a poor performance.

• Several of the Kings cited Jeter's tempo-changing presence (and four assists) as the most significant factor of the fourth period.

• Samuel Dalembert, who became ill during the Kings' recent road trip to Denver, played only four minutes. Westphal said he went with offense-oriented players in his matchups against the Suns, but it's obvious that Cousins will get the bulk of the minutes at center if he continues progressing.

December 30, 2010
Kings end 2010 with a blast

Paul Westphal understands the pressures of the business as much as any veteran coach. Losing streaks and late-game struggles lead to late-night runs to the drugstore for antacids, whether you're coaching the Kings, Lakers, Bulls, Spurs, etc. And while Westphal is very good at maintaining his emotional equilibrium - at least publicly - his relief after Wednesday's dramatic win over the Grizzlies was apparent in his postgame words and demeanor.

"Who can figure this game out, huh?" he began. "I just really appreciate the Sacramento fans. They were loud out there, they were with us the whole way. i think they like this team, and they want to root for a team that's trying to climb out of where we've been. Our team's not quitting and our fans aren't quitting. Sometimes you can never figure a miracle shot like Tyreke made ... but we deserved it."

Asked what he was thinking when O.J. Mayo hit the 22-footer with 1.5 seconds remaining, Westphal added, "Well, I was just in the moment right then. Of all the games I've coached in the NBA, I betcha there's been two times when I didn't have a timeout in that situation. I always save one, but tonight I wasn't able to. But I did know we had time, so I was screaming."

After Tyreke Evans' halfcourt stunner secured the victory and the Kings ended the year in high drama, an elated Westphal jumped and threw his arms in the air. Evans leaped onto the press table and led the long-suffering fans in cheers. Everyone on the bench celebrated. Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof hurried over to congratulate his players and coaches, and a few minutes later, stood in the tunnel area near the security entrance watching replays on an overhead television. And the partying didn't stop there. The hooting and hollering continued in the private shower and training area inside the locker room.

The female influence

Evans' mother (Bonita) and grandmother (Alice) are visiting for the holidays, and as both revealed before the game, Tyreke is feasting on the home cooking. His favorite dish? His grandmother's banana pudding. Neither woman enjoys flying, which explains their infrequent sightings. But they certainly seem to be having fun. They arrived at their courtside seats more than an hour before tipoff and snapped photos of the Kings during pregame warmups. At some point, they were introduced to Monique Cousins, who returns to Mobile, Ala., today after spending a week with her son (DeMarcus).

A few other notables:

• The Kings scored 21 points off the break, surpassing the Grizzlies' 16 transition points.

• Beno Udrih quietly (as usual) contributed six assists, four rebounds and 24 points off his usual array of mid-range jumpers, but including one particularly acrobatic reverse layup. He also combined with Evans' on the strip (of Mayo) that led to Tyreke's crucial breakaway dunk with 18.9 remaining.

• Evans' actually had two steals in the deciding moments. He poked the ball from Mike Conley with 1:39 remaining and was rewarded with free throws at the other end.

• One reason the Grizzlies are slumping - they were 1-of-3 from three-point range. The Kings, by contrast, converted 8 of 17 attempts. Of course, the Kings also were outscored 56-34 in the paint.

• Since that 3-1 start, the Kings had dropped 21 of 23 games. Hence, the good vibes in Arco Arena and a day off for Westphal's players.

TyrekeEvansClippers.JPGAs beat writer Jason Jones mentioned in his game story off last night's Kings-Clippers, Tyreke Evans is considering undergoing a laser procedure on his sore left foot that would sideline him approximately three months. The second-year star said he plans to speak with his agent (Bob Myers) again today and decide the best course of action regarding the plantar fasciitis (inflammation) of the left arch/heel area.

But that was only part of the post-game scene. Evans, who missed a potential game-tying free throw and a game-winning jumper after erupting for a season-high 32 points (and one sneaky from-behind block on Blake Griffin), sat at his locker afterward and engaged media members in the most extensive interview of his young career. The only topic he refused to discuss in detail was the "family" issue he has said has troubled him for three months.

Anyway, Tyreke was so unusually candid and chatty - and so immensely funny when talking about how his mother, Bonita, came pounding on his door late last Thursday and scolded him for playing "like ...." this season - that I wanted to provide an abbreviated version of his comments.

On his struggles this season: "I knew teams were going to play me different, but like I said with the foot, it's been frustrating. I can't feel it, but I know I'm not playing the same way ... It felt a little better, and I got treatment after the game. But I talked to my agent, and I was thinking about getting something done to it earlier. I'd probably miss about three months. But I'm going to keep that in mind - whether I want to keep playing or just get it over with .. I'm still thinking about it. The doctors said if I'm playing good, to keep playing. But it's tough, especially in the morning. It's hard to push down. Once I get going, it's pretty good ... I mean, I had it at Memphis, but it went away."

On how many times he has considered undergoing the procedure: "The way I was playing, I was thinking about it. I just tried to push through everything and play like myself ... If I need to get it over with, I'll just do it."

On the hour-long midnight conversation with his mother, who is visiting from Philadelphia: "My Mom just knocked on my door (after the Milwaukee loss) and said she wanted to have a talk with me. We had a long talk in the room, and she kind of boosted my confidence. She said, 'you're not playing like yourself,' and I said, 'you're right. I just have to put that in the past and go out and play.' I told her I didn't feel like talking, but she told me to open the door (laugh). I didn't really want to hear what she had to say, but I listened. I know she wants the best for me."

On whether he considered ignoring the knocks on his door: "(Laugh) For a minute I did but she said 'open the door.' She just kept saying it. She said, 'or I'll break the door down.' I didn't want to get my door messed up, so I did it!. I'm not the type of person to let people know what's going on, and that talk helped me a lot. She told me I'm thinking too much."

On whether his Mom is a tough critic: "Yeah. She tells me the truth, whether I like to hear it or not. She told me I was playing like "bleep," so I had to deal with it ... Then I watched some tape. I had more speed, I was quicker (last year)."

On the miss at the foul line (after he hit consecutive free throws): "It felt good. DeMarcus (Cousins) had a little tip and I thought he got grabbed, and I had a chance to put it back in but it just didn't fall. I kind of rushed it ... I'll take the blame for that. I know we're struggling."

On his "family" situation: "I was trying not to show it, but it kind of got to me a lot. I was frustrated about it. Like I said. I talked to my Mom. That kind of helped me out .. I think I put it behind me. I went out there, I wasn't thinking about anything but basketball. Whatever happens, happens ... It's between me and my family, and it's over with, and I'm just trying to put it to the back."

Photo caption: Kings' point guard Tyreke Evans lays the ball up during the game between the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Clippers at Arco Arena on Monday.

Photo credit: Randall Benton/rbenton@sacbee.com

Joe and Gavin Maloof are impulsive, emotional guys, and after watching their reaction to last night's loss to the depleted Milwaukee Bucks, it wouldn't shock me if both Geoff Petrie and Paul Westphal are fired within the next few hours/days. As I have written recently in The Bee, the brothers have been privately fuming about the team's struggles (5-22), the trades that haven't significantly upgraded the talent level, the team's overall regression from last year's 25-win season, along with Westphal's inability to cope with youngsters Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins.

The Maloofs also are upset with Petrie for urging them - last year - to pick up the option on Westphal's contract for 2011-12 "for the sake of continuity."

The easier move, of course, is to fire Westphal and worry about rebuilding the front office in the offseason. (Assuming Petrie doesn't simply resign). Some Maloof advisers are urging them to take their time and peruse the league for an up-and-coming personnel individual before gutting their entire personnel department.

But check back in a few hours. Remember, they are impulsive, emotional guys.

If a move is made? Or both moves are made? The family is debating whether to bring back former Monarchs GM/coach John Whisenant to give the team some structure, or whether to prod Whiz into the front office and simply promote assistant Jim Eyen for the rest of the year. Whisenant, who guided the Monarchs to the WNBA Championship in 2005, currently runs the New York Liberty. But he would return to Sac in a New York minute ... preferably as coach. He wants to coach the Kings in the worst way.

As of early Friday morning, speculation was ongoing (and fueled by a report on CBSSports.com). But Joe Maloof reiterated in the wee hours that nothing is imminent. Still, I have never seen them more distressed than during/after Thursday's loss. The questions are these: How long does their patience last? And what changes would be made? Votes of "confidence" mean nothing in professional sports, partly because of the fluid nature of the business.

In the wake of the Kings' collapse Tuesday night against the Warriors, there has been considerable conversation on blogs and elsewhere about the possibility of deposed Charlotte Bobcats head coach Larry Brown trekking to Sacramento and replacing Paul Westphal. Well, not a chance. Brown wants to continue coaching somewhere, but per the Kings' situation, he faces the same issues he did when he was out of work and tried to get involved with the vacancy here in 2007. One, his wife and kids are insistent about remaining in Philadelphia (where the family remained when Larry packed his bags for Charlotte). Two, Geoff Petrie only contacted Brown in 2007 at the Maloofs' insistence - and then politely refused to bring him to Sacramento for an interview. And third, as of today and for what appears to be the foreseeable future, Petrie and the Maloofs are sticking with Westphal. Among other things, they like him immensely as a person, acknowledge roster issues, and are almost paralyzed at the prospect of making yet another coaching change.

Of course, this is the NBA. Check back in a week. Or two. Meantime, from what I'm hearing, Petrie is aggressively pursuing trades for a starting point guard. The interest in Aaron Brooks persists, though the Houston Rockets want more than the Kings currently are willing to deliver. (The plan is to play Tyreke Evans off the ball, as more of a receiver than distributor).

DeMarcus Cousins has his anger issues, but apparently, so does his coach. After Wednesday's practice - which I missed while monitoring a live chat for the Bee - Paul Westphal announced that his rookie center had been fined and removed from the starting lineup for making a right-handed choke sign during Wednesday's loss to Golden State. At the time, the Kings led 98-93, were 19.3 from a victory, with Warriors swingman Reggie Williams at the free throw line. Cousins, who was fined Nov. 12 after clashing with an assistant and team trainer, flashed a grin and placed his right hand around his throat. Williams missed two of his three attempts.

The punishment is reminiscent of Westphal's benching last year of Spencer Hawes. The former Kings center had publicly complained about the player rotations, and when he arrived for the next game, discovered he had been de-activated and his uniform removed from the locker room.

Westphal's latest disciplinary move seems even more extreme. It would have been different if Cousins had flipped somebody off or engaged in similarly offensive behavior. But this was nothing more than a silly, boyish display. A scolding would have sufficed. And in the scheme of issues ailing the Kings, this is a major overreaction.

December 22, 2010
Kings' worse on the replay

When you're seated courtside at Kings games, you get a great "feel" for the event, the size, quickness, athleticism and physicality of games. But I like to come home afterward and watch the television replays, basically to hear what analyst Jerry Reynolds and/or Bill Walton has to say. But having just watched a replay of the Kings-Warriors .... I can't stand to stick around for a repeat of the overtime. The lack of discipline. The inability to collect rebounds. The stupid shots. The dumb fouls. The one-on-one play. I'll say it again: the one-on-one play. And worst of all, leaving Vlade Radmanovic wide open for the three that forced the extra period. The only good thing about the Kings on Tuesday was their effort -- if they expended this much energy throughout most of the season, they would not be stuck at 5-21. The Warriors, to their credit, and for all their roster flaws, keep fannies in the seats these past few years because they run, they pass, they're damn fun to watch, and their marketing people are wonderfully creative. The Kings were on Tuesday were wonderfully entertaining for a while, or until they resorted to the dreaded isolation game late in the fourth quarter. What is with these guys? They play as if they expect to be fined for every pass they throw!

Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof looked physically ill when they walked off the court afterward. They have been resistant to making major personnel/coaching moves, but I have to believe that a shakeup is inevitable if the slide continues much longer .....

I said it then, and I'll stick with my gut: When the Kings were 13-14 a year ago to the day, the worst thing that happened was Paul Westphal's decision to use Tyreke Evans in a 1-4 scheme in consecutive games against the Cavs and the Lakers. Putting a rookie up against LeBron James and Kobe Bryant? You kidding me? Blown away then, still blown away now. The Lakers' game particularly grates: the Kings were leading by seven midway into overtime, running, dunking, defending, passing, the crowd going crazy, while Tyreke was on the bench with five fouls. During a timeout, Westphal inserted Evans back into the lineup and started calling isolation plays, and of course, the Kings lost the momentum and the game. (You don't want to know what the Lakers' staff privately said about that strategy). I simply can't imagine Gregg Popovich, Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Larry Brown, among others, putting a rookie in that situation, and especially can't imagine them encouraging/tolerating the one-on-one play. For those who might have forgotten: Sloan being hard on Deron Williams, Jackson barking at Jordan and later Kobe, Brown yelling at Allen Iverson, Pop pulling a young Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, scolding them, then sending them back into the game 20 seconds later.

For those who disagree, sorry. Actually, no apologies. My perspective is influenced by decades of covering Magic, Bird, D.J., Jordan, Pippen, Stockton, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, Mark Price, Kevin Johnson, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Michael Cooper, Bill Walton, Norm Nixon, etc., etc. As the sticky-fingered Malone learned during his experiences with the 1992 Dream Team in Barcelona - the ball rarely touched the floor on fastbreaks during practices and games - if the ball doesn't move, you aren't going to win. Basketball isn't baseball. It's all about co-dependency. The rules change, but the basics remain the same. Hello, Kings!

And by the way: my personal fave Charles Barkley was the best player in Barcelona, partly because if he didn't pass the ball, his Hall of Fame peers would have strangled him (figuratively speaking, of course).

One of the more interesting things about the Kings' 5-20 dive (coming off last season's 25 victories) is that, although the Kings stink, under president Matina Kolokotronis, the club has finally caught up with the rest of the league in terms of marketing approach. Per my repeated rants of the past several years - and under former president John Thomas - tickets were overpriced, sponsors and civic leaders were alienated, marketing was nonexistent, the basketball side was arrogant and disconnected from the community (and reality). In general, the Kings until recently have been decades behind the Jazz, Spurs, Magic, etc., and the other small market franchises when it comes to promotion and targeting ticket packages to a specific demographic. Can't understand that one. The Maloofs are known as master salesmen. What took so long?

But now, here's the Kings' major problem: how do you sell a product that is, frankly, unwatchable at times? I don't want to hear anyone ripping on Kings fans. Amazingly, people here still care. I repeatedly am asked, "what's the Kings score? Why are they so bad? What's the plan?" Fans are just reluctant to spend their money on a team that (a) plays without a sense of purpose or sense of urgency, (b) seems caught in a time warp in a basketball sense, and (c) appears to lack the leadership to move forward.

As someone who has covered the NBA, Major League Baseball and the NFL in five markets, I use the Jazz and Spurs as the small-market model: the only reason for losing a fan base with the passion of Sacramentans is simple neglect. We're talking business and basketball. The Kings' business side has undergone a complete makeover. The basketball side needs to enter the next decade ....

December 12, 2010
Tyreke needs the break

After watching Tyreke Evans the past few weeks, I'm glad to hear he's not accompanying the Kings on their upcoming road trip. He's obviously hurting (plantar fasciitis in his left foot), and admittedly, is preoccupied with the situation. While he recovers, it will be interesting how the Kings look with Pooh Jeter directing a faster-paced offense - assuming the rookie's playing time increases. I'll be watching while vacationing for the next week at my modest abode not far from The Bee.

For those wondering how Hassan Whiteside is doing in the D-League, let's just say, it's been interesting. In three games off the bench for Eric Musselman's Reno Bighorns, the lanky rookie is averaging 5.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 12 minutes. Friday night against visiting Rio Grande Valley, the Kings' second-round pick scored six points, grabbed six boards and blocked five shots - intriguing numbers except for the fact that he fouled out in 13 minutes. (Several members of the Kings organization were present to check up on their second-round draft choice). Whiteside isn't thrilled with the assignment, but he needs to play. Those D-League bus rides and hotel accommodations can't be all that bad. Can they? Hassan should just follow the example of Donte Greene, who was sent over to Reno during his rookie season, embraced the move, had an immediate impact, and was back in Sac in less than two weeks. And by the way: the Bighorns are 7-1.

December 10, 2010
Dalembert on edge about Haiti

While watching/listening to CNN anchor Anderson Cooper's interview with actor Sean Penn, who was on the phone in Haiti, I was reminded that Samuel Dalembert has more on his mind than basketball. Because of the onoing unrest in his native Haiti, he said that his father, sister and other relatives are remaining sequestered in their homes. "They won't go outside," he said earlier today. "It's not safe." The Kings center, who was honored at the Hall of Fame last summer for his humanitarian efforts in the disaster-stricken native, a la Dikembe Mutombo (Congo) and Vlade Divac (U.S., Balkans, New Orleans) of the previous generation of NBA centers, is working toward holding a fundraiser in Sacramento in the near future.

This was a strange night at Arco Arena for a lot of reasons. Forget the fact the Kings broke their eight-game losing streak against the Washington Wizards, Pooh Jeter was a jet off the bench (again), and Tyreke Evans said he had a stress fracture in his left foot, then said he didn't have a stress fracture in his left foot.

It started long before tipoff, with people in the press room talking about the 24/7 newspaper, radio and television tributes marking the 30th anniversary of John Lennon's murder. (Count me among the millions of passionate Beatles fan who remember where they were when Howard Cosell spread the grim news during Monday Night Football). But then I learned that former Sixers center Samuel Dalembert traveled across the country to attend the funeral of longtime Daily News beat writer Phil Jasner, a friend and former colleague for the past three decades. I checked the newspaper's website and saw photos of the Kings veteran Samuel Dalembert, a longtime 76ers center who traveled across the country to attend Wednesday's services. He planned to make it back in time for tipoff, but didn't make it. (Kudos to Paul Westphal for giving Samuel the family time). Also attending services were Doug Collins, John Chaney and World B. Free, one of the league's true characters in LBC (Life Before Charles). All I can say is ... Phil would have been delighted.

Not that any of us need be reminded that the purpose of sports is to entertain, but the notion was reinforced during team warmups when I happened across Tonette Johnson, whose husband, Bill, was the most loyal Kings fan I have ever encountered. When I asked about Bill, she shook her head. He finally succumbed to cancer after a grueling four-year battle. Readers of the Bee undoubtedly know Bill's story. We caught up with him often, partly because you couldn't miss him! A large, white-haired man with a quick smile, and dressed in full Kings regalia accentuated by strings of beads, he not only attended all Kings home games, he sat courtside every year at the Las Vegas Summer League.

"We called it part of our 'Quality of Life Tour,' " Tonette explained, "and every year it was like, 'if I can only make it to another Summer League!' Attending Kings games and going to Vegas, that was part of our 'quality of life tour.' "

One final thought: Johnson, 61, was totally enamored of rookie DeMarcus Cousins. During one Summer League game in July, he called me over to his seat that was located directly behind the Kings bench, insisted that what he was about to say was off-the-record, and then related the young center's outburst from moments earlier. Word for word. Gesture for gesture. And then Johnson laughed. He pooh-poohed concerns about Cousins' temperament, was thrilled the Kings finally acquired a beefy big man "with an attitude," and bottom line, thoroughy enjoyed watching the kid. So so sorry Bill is no longer with us. He undoubtedly would have gotten a kick out of the head-shaking, foot stomping, emotional DMC, his favorite starting Kings center (says Tonette) ... since Vlade.

While I'm not far from an expert in economics, the people I have spoken with the past few days who tend to know about such NBA matters believe the league's purchase of the New Orleans Hornets was a smart move despite the hefty ($300 million?) price tag. Mainly, they believe the league did not want to get into the heat of collective bargaining talks with one of its franchises in deep distress. The plan is that, once a new agreement is reached, the Hornets will be sold for a profit - preferably to an owner who wants to keep the franchise in Louisiana.

But, maybe not. The tiny market Hornets will continue to be approached by the usual bidders from Kansas City, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Las Vegas, etc., but from what I am hearing, the league has only mild interest in moving the Hornets to another small market, especially one with intense competition from other pro franchises, quality arenas notwithstanding. That means Kansas City and St. Louis are unlikely destinations, and for different reasons, and almost as unlikely, are Anaheim (third team in So Cal?) and San Jose (Lakob and Guber just spent a fortune acquiring the Warriors and the Bay Area territory, and the Maloofs (we will not sell!) are trying to invigorate their market in Sacramento). Plus, the economy in Las Vegas is horrific. Good luck getting the Nevada legislature and/or voters to pass public financing for an arena. No chance. Besides, the league hates the gaming/lifesyle temptations, especially after the All-Star Game fiasco.

No, the most appealing market for a future NBA franchise - the Hornets if they can't financially survive in New Orleans - remains an old personal favorite: Seattle. The Sonics' former hometown will get another team as soon as some local billionaire is willing to build an arena and spend a fortune on purchasing a franchise, and most deservedly so.

Until the Kings' fourth-quarter rally against the Clippers, Bill Walton's commentary was the most entertaining part of the game. Talk about a mudslinger. The Clippers at least an excuse, having played in Portland last night. But here were the Kings yet again, catching an opponent on the back end of a back-to-back, yet appearing to be the more fatigued team.

A few late thoughts on the Kings:

• For whatever reason, this is a poorly-conditioned squad. They are young and athletic; they should be forcing turnovers, running, and dunking. Maybe they should be running suicides or fastbreak drills in practice? Until Tyreke Evans threw an outlet to Omri Casspi with 1:55 remaining in the first quarter, it was hard to remember what a Kings fastbreak looked like.

• DeMarcus Cousins is immensely talented, and given that big, chunky body of his, he'll have to play himself into NBA shape. That was a good move by Paul Westphal to stick him in the starting lineup. Plus, it's not like the Kings were winning games when the youngster was coming off the bench. Love, love his potential (and passing skills).

• This might have been Casspi's most complete game. The second-year forward is at his best when he is rebounding, running the floor, cutting ... and the Kings are moving the ball. His game comes much more easily when the Kings move the ball and stop playing in mud.

• Agree with Walton: the Kings' perimeter was (is) absolutely terrible.

• My biggest gripe? There is no excuse for the collective lack of energy. For most of the season - including the first three quarters against the Clips - the Kings played like a bunch of 40-year-olds with sore knees, sprained ankles or migraine headaches. Very perplexing.

December 3, 2010
Thinking about Phil Jasner

Just heard that my dear friend and longtime colleague, Phil Jasner, passed away earlier this evening after a lengthy struggle with cancer. He was a young, vibrant 68 until his final weeks, even though he covered the 76ers (for the Philadelphia Daily News) since 1981 and spent untold hours chronicling legends and chasing stories about Julius Erving, Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson. His imitation of Iverson's famous press conference (Practice? Practice?) was hilarious. Condolences to his son, Andy, and everyone else around the league who is feeling Phil's loss tonight.h

A few thoughts about LeBron James and his much-anticipated return to Cleveland:

• If I were among those who bet on games - and I'm an idiot when it comes to gambling - I would have cleaned up on the Cavs-Heat spread. There was no way LeBron was NOT going to have a great game. Now, if he had played like that during the playoffs ...

• Amid the clamoring for the return of Pat Riley, please remember that Riles (Knicks, Heat) hasn't run a fastbreak since his Showtime Lakers.

• You can't really get a true feel for a crowd unless you're actually in the building, but from what I could sense from watching on television, this was nothing compared to what LeBron would have experienced under similar circumstances in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago or Salt Lake City. The chanting. The booing. The signs. Seriously. This was nothing.

• As for LeBron's decision to bolt Cleveland for Miami? C'est la vie. Cavs management had seven years to find him a Scottie Pippen, a Pau Gasol, a quality supporting cast. That's on them. His insensitive ESPN sayonara is on him.

With DeMarcus Cousins replacing ailing Samuel Dalembert in the starting lineup, I took a look back at the offseason trade involving Andres Nocioni and Spencer Hawes. And based on the team's records and individual stats, neither center seems to be benefitting appreciably from the move.

Dalembert, the former Philadelphia 76ers veteran who arrived at training camp in poor shape (partly because of his time spent in Haiti working for various charities, and also because he has never been known for his intense offseason conditioning regime) is averaging 4.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and shooting 38 percent - well below his career averages of 8.0 points and 8.3 boards, and 52 percent field goal shooting. One contributing factor undoubtedly is the Kings' insistence on utilizing him as an offensive threat, particularly in the low post, which was not even a remote consideration during his time in Philly. The wiry, athletic Dalembert was regarded as a shotblocker and defender who could trigger fastbreaks, hit the faceup jumper and surprise with an occasional creative pass. But he accepted as a streaky, unpredictable scorer, and was never envisioned as an offensive force, particularly from the low block.

Hawes, who has a history of knee issues, has been healthy, but disappointing. As one Sixers insider suggested to me earlier tonight, "Hawes can play in the league, but he is just not a starting center." The Kings' former first-round pick - selected only because Joakim Noah was plucked one pick earlier - is averaging 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds. Given the fact that Doug Collins is one of the most exacting and demanding coaches in the league, it will be interesting to see how long he sticks with Hawes in the starting lineup.

The Sixers, by the way, are much happier with Nocioni. And vice versa. The Argentine was absolutely miserable here last year. He privately and repeatedly complained about the Kings' chronic lack of ball movement, most notably the tendency for the guards to ignore open wing players on the break, echoing the more recent sentiments of journeyman Ime Udoka. The former Kings reserve, who was re-signed by the Spurs, told reporters in San Antonio last week that, in Sacramento, there was "a lot of standing around."

If Cousins can stay out of foul trouble - and Paul Westphal's doghouse - he should be able to facilitate the offense. He is such a gifted, intuitive passer, I can't even imagine how effective he would be in a balanced offensive system that features movement, screening and teamwork. The longer I do this job, the more I appreciate Phil Jackson and Jerry Sloan, and believe in the importance of physical conditioning.

Before Tuesday's game against the Indiana Pacers, DeMarcus Cousins refused to talk about the fact he was kicked out of practice on Monday. But as deadline approached late Tuesday evening, the Kings' rookie was pretty chatty - and very candid. Some of his comments were hurriedly included in my column, and Jason Jones added others into his blog. But the Full DeMarcus is worth a longer look. The Big Fella, who is only 20 years old, lays it out there.

"It's very hard," he said. "I mean, you come into practice, you can just feel it in the air. The negativity. It's like a black cloud hanging over ... I'm mad, I'm frustrated about losing.

I am a big part of this team, and coach (Paul) Westphal said I've been terrible. That's the truth. I've been terrible. And it affects the team. I've got to pick up my game."

As I wrote in my column in today's Bee, Cousins is too easy a target. He's a beefy 6-foot-11, 20-year-old kid with a huge personality, and like most rookies in today's game, is more than a little jolted by the realities of the NBA. The travel. The practices. The schedule. It's intimidating, no question. But he has immense talent and is a "competitive spirit" as his mother, Monique suggests. He definitely has to get in better shape and play harder, but he loves to pass, has terrific skills, and again, has a feel for the game. And you have to love the candor. He looks in the mirror, which is huge. Plus, he is a quick study. Case in point: After repeatedly getting blocked underneath by Joakim Noah and the long, athletic limbs of the Chicago Bulls last Saturday, Cousins made the adjustment, and later in the game, eluded the defense by attacking the other side of the basket. He has a feel, an instinct, that can't be taught.

More about that incident ...

The cerebral, acerbic Westphal has to maintain authority over his club, particularly his younger players. This is tough. These are not the 1980s. Yet the overwhelming sentiment within the organization (and the locker room) is that Westphal was intimidated last year by Tyreke Evans, refusing to bench the rookie for failing to give up the ball on the break, breaking off plays, overdribbling, etc. Numerous Kings type are wondering if Westphal is trying to atone for his coddling of Evans - whose older brothers have long insisted that Tyreke needs direction and a firm coaching hand - by being particularly hard on Cousins.

Speaking from experience

When asked about the Cousins-Westphal exchange, veteran Jason Thompson offered these thoughts: "Until you've played enough games, and done something in this league, you can't go back at the coach. You make him look bad. It's like I told Demarcus. I was real frustrated my rookie year, too. I wanted to be playing a lot more. But until you travel to the different cities, play different teams, you don't know what's it like. You just have to work hard and wait for your time."

Whither Beno?

Beno Udrih is the one Kings player who has a completely legitimate gripe about playing time. Frankly, he deserves better. He is regarded among his teammates as the smartest player on the roster, and increasingly, can be seen instructing players about where to be. He is especially attention to Evans - demonstrating ball fakes and shifty moves. As TNT analyst Steve Kerr suggested during the Thanksgiving Day telecast of Kings-Clippers, Beno would be a terrific third guard on a contender. He is the player his former Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich always said he could be .... if he only grew up. Well, he has.

Beno is the Kings' best facilitator, the best mid-range shooter, the only semblance of a floor leader, and yet he remains victimized by equivocation about Evans at lead guard. For some reason, and particularly late in close games, the ball is slow-dribbled upcourt by Tyreke. Is that Westphal directing Evans to take the ball? Or Udrih deferring to the player anointed last year as the team's next great player? The issue continues to confound everyone in the Kingdom.

The tension around the Kings' camp these days isn't quite up to Miami Heat levels (come on, they were talking championship), but it's close. Same issues. Same gripes. Stagnant offense. Players privately questioning the coach. Disappointing record. The Kings weren't even projected for a playoff berth, but there isn't a person inside the Arco offices who didn't expect these Kings to be more competitive, more energetic, more enthusiastic, absolutely more entertaining, and given the favorable November home schedule, somewhat better than 4-11.

Can't disagree. After perusing the schedule, I came to the generous conclusion that the Kings should be 8-7, with the Indiana Pacers visiting Tuesday night. There are no excuses for the lethargic, discombobulated performances in the majority of their home-court losses, most of which occurred with the visitors on the second night of back-to-backs: Memphis (double OT loss the night before in Phoenix), Minnesota, Detroit and New York.

What's really weird is that the Kings can stand around for the better part of November, than produce a dynamic, uptempo, invigorating first-half effort against the Bulls last Saturday. Before they collapsed in familiar fashion in the second half. Still, if they can play like that for two quarters against one of the league's better teams? Rebound and run? Space the floor? Move the ball? Give fans a reason to (a) buy a ticket and (b) avoid reaching for remote? Why so seldom?

Their issues, by the way, extend far beyond rookie DeMarcus Cousins and his outbursts in practice. More on that for Wednesday's Bee.

Before the Kings collapsed against the Chicago Bulls Saturday night, I caught up with former Monarchs point guard Ticha Penicheiro. The WNBA career assists leader still calls Sacramento home and occasionally shows up at Kings games. When the Monarchs folded almost a year ago, she signed with the L.A. Sparks. But her close connection with former Monarchs coach/general manager John Whisenant is no secret.

Partly because Whisenant was so demanding, Ticha dropped about 30 pounds and became a terrific defender - and though initially skeptical, a huge Whiz supporter. So don't be surprised she is reuinted with her former coach, who recently named GM/coach of the New York Liberty. I would be shocked if Whiz doesn't make a serious play for his former point guard and current free agent, though more in the role of tutor/mentor. "I don't know what I'm going to do yet," Penicheiro said, grinning.

Seeing Penicheiro made me nostalgic. Frankly, I miss those days at Arco Arena. Defense. Fastbreaks. Ball movement. Creative playmaking. Ticha was a classic, intuitive point guard in the sense of thinking pass-first, setting up teammates, and running the break. Though a subpar scorer and not particularly quick, she utilized her size (5-foot-11), length, anticipation and intelligence en route to a marvelous career. And clutch? Ticha's two third-quarter steals triggered the Monarchs' second-half rally in the championship clincher in 2005.

Once again, I was reminded that it's not the label that matters. For those who also might have forgotten, the selfless, cerebral, agenda-free Doug Christie was listed as the Kings two-guard when they were contenders, but while sharing the backcourt with Mike Bibby, he was the club's primary ballhandler and playmaker, and a triple-double threat every time he walked on the court.

SALT LAKE CITY - We had computer glitches back in the office earlier tonight during the game, so most of my in-game blogs failed to post. It's probably just as well. The Kings' performance was even more disturbing in person.

What ever happened to the team that started the season 3-1? The one that actually passed the ball once in a while, actually moved body parts once in a while, set screens, occasionally even scored in transition?

Anyway, now that the computers are humming along, here are a few post-game thoughts, starting with congratulations to Jerry Sloan on his 1,200th career coaching victory:

- Paul Westphal wants to take advantage of Carl Landry in the low post. We get that. But this feed-the-post obsession is contributing to the stagnant offense. Landry is most effective when he attacks quickly or faces up for a jumper. Too often, though, he holds the ball, giving defenders time to react. Then, instead of passing out of the double-team and finding an open teammate, he tries to split the defenders, getting his shot blocked or resulting in a poor possession. In his last five games, he has failed to contribute a single assist. Zero. Zip. None. Not even Kevin McHale (Mr. Black Hole himself) got away with that. That is simply bad basketball.

- While chatting with a member of the Jazz coaching staff before the game, he reminded me that Sloan is a stickler for players driving to the basket instead of pulling up for the jumper on the fastbreak, as is so common today.

- The Jazz are 10-5, and Memo Okur (Achilles) hasn't even played yet. The sense is that when the veteran center returns, he'll come off the bench behind Al Jefferson.

- No practice Tuesday. Westphal, who works his players hard (and often), gave them a break after the back-to-back games.

- Not only did the Kings shoot only 35.8 percent, they converted 5 of 16 three's. So why keep shooting from long range? The Jazz were 3 of 9 from beyond the arc, further suggesting that moving, cutting, passing, setting screens, reversing the ball, etc., leads to easier shots and higher percentage shots. Too much one-on-one, and too much off the dribble.

- DeMarcus Cousins has been wildly inconsistent of late, but it is interesting to note that the Kings were 3-1 when he was in the starting lineup. He doesn't provide Dalembert's defensive presence, of course, but offensively, he played with more poise and seemed more intent on muscling to the basket and/or looking for teammates. Tonight, he again floated outside and too often looked to score. His two missed jumpers in the second quarter helped fuel Utah's break. Can't dump the offensive malaise on a 20-year-old, but would love to see more of that passing.

November 22, 2010
In-game blog (Kings vs. Jazz)

By Ailene Voisin

First quarter: Kings 22, Jazz 20

The Kings got off to a decent start, and actually led several times in the opening
quarter. But once again, turnovers slowed any chance of gaining any real momentum.

They were guilty of five miscues in the first eight minutes. The usual stuff.

Strips. Careless passes. Tyreke Evans also got called for a rarity - for palming the ball.

Still, the Kings executed offensively and grabbed the lead, 22-20, on a quick jumper from Carl Landry off a nice feed by Luther Head.

Halftime: Jazz 49, Kings 37

Paul Westphal went with an entirely different unit to start the second period, probably resting his starters because of the altitude. Francisco Garcia and DeMarcus Cousins stayed on the floor after playing one minute at the end of the first quarter. Beno Udrih and Jason Thompson were joined on the floor by Omri Casspi, who made his first appearance (a brief one) in three games.

But that lead didn't last long. The Jazz capitalized on turnovers by Udrih and Thompson, two missed jumpers by Cousins, and began scoring in transition. C.J. Miles erupted for 11 points, including a pair of acrobatic drives. Udrih really struggled. He was 1-for-5 in the quarter and committed two turnovers.

The Jazz already have 15 fastbreak points ... to the Kings' two. The Kings also shot an abysmal 32 percent, including 2-for-10 from three-point range. Greene missed his three attempts, and Udrih and Evans each failed to convert on two long-range tries.

Third quarter: Jazz 78, Kings 56.

Donte Greene picked up his third and fourth fouls in quick succession shortly into the second half, prompting Paul Westphal to go back to Omri Casspi. Greene was playing well, except for the fact that he wasn't close on any of his three-point attempts. The more interesting stat is the continued offensive futility of the Kings' centers. Samuel Dalembert has now gone three games and and three periods without a field goal. He is now 0-for his last 14 attempts. The offensive hits just keep coming: Tyreke Evans just blew downcourt, drove into a trio of defenders and was stripped of the ball. The Jazz converted a pair of ensuing free throws and maintained their cushy lead entering the fourth.

Kings final: Jazz 94, Kings 83

There has been a Pooh Jeter sighting. Is this a good thing? If nothing else, it's different. The diminutive point guard started the fourth period alongside Beno Udrih. He was introduced as Eugene "JEE-ter" by the public address announcer, but he probably didn't mind. (The last name is pronounced JeTT-er). This was his second NBA appearance. He also contributed his second field goal when he converted an open jumper from the left wing with 8:30 remaining and, unfortunately, his second career turnover. He committed a backcourt violation a few minutes later. The night ended even worse for Omri Casspi. The second-year forward hit his head on the floor after going for a rebound with 3:14 left and definitely appeared shaken. Westphal called a timeout and immediately removed him from the game. Ugly, ugly, ugly.

Paul Westphal hinted earlier today that he might change the starting lineup against the New York Knicks, and after five consecutive losses (including home clunkers vs. the Grizzlies, Wolves and Pistons), who could blame him? He wouldn't offer any hints even when pressed, but after crunching some numbers, watching tapes of recent games, and chatting with a couple of NBA lifers, it wouldn't surprise me if Westphal experimented with Francisco Garcia and Beno Udrih in the backcourt, with Tyreke Evans at small forward.

This would be a gutsy move considering the organization basically turned the team over to Evans mere weeks into his rookie season. For all his prodigious - and unique - talents, almost no one in the league believes the reigning Rookie of the Year should be directing an offense. The consensus is that the 6-foot-6 Evans is a powerful (and natural) slashing scorer, a multi-tool player who can rebound, pass and become an above-average defender. He is not, however, a facilitator, and asking him to be a primary playmaker seems almost unfair.

Moving Garcia into the backcourt - and empowering Udrih to direct the offense - seems worth a try, for a few reasons:

• The Kings simply have to play faster. They would be unbearable to watch if the 24-second clock didn't exist. Their poor shooting percentage (45 percent) is at least somewhat attributable to an inordinate number of contested shots, to the habit of creating everything off the dribble, and to the fact they rarely utilize their quickness and athleticism for fastbreak opportunities. (It's ok. Throw ahead!) Unless Tyreke grabs the rebound and breaks downcourt for one of his muscular scoring drives, his pacing with the ball is tentative, even laborious, and his passes too seldom catch teammates in rhythm.

• Evans is intriguing as a receiver, particularly as the recipient of outlet passes. Think of him as sort of a Kellen Winslow, Sr., blowing in like a tight end from the right side, ahead of defenses instead of having to maneuver through multiple defenders.

• Garcia is a decent ballhandler and ball mover, and he improves the backcourt defense immediately with his quick hands and anticipation. The Kings rank last in the league defensively, so it can't get worse.

• Omri Casspi provides energy, quickness and rebounding off the bench.

• Until Geoff Petrie maneuvers for a Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, Steve Nash, etc., Beno is worth a look at the point. If openly acknowledged as the primary ballhandler/playmaker, he might not be so inclined to defer.

The downside in all of this, of course, is that an Evans-Carl Landry frontcourt is undersized, experimental, and not particularly athletic. Both are below-the-rim players, and when you add DeMarcus Cousins, that makes it a trio. But if Evans and Cousins are the future, why not start now?

Just a thought.

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

I was supposed to be off for a few days, but two things compelled me to get back to work (albeit briefly). The first was the Kings' abysmal performance in Saturday night's loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. The other was a chat after the game with Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, a former teammate of Maurice Lucas, the Trail Blazers power forward who died last week of bladder cancer at age 58.

First, about the Kings. There was no excuse for their performance against a Grizzlies team that lost in double-overtime the previous night in Phoenix. Credit to Paul Westphal for noting this fairly significant factor. We won't even get into numbers, except to mention the Kings' 16 assists/20 turnovers ratio. Granted, the Kings fattened up on weaker opponents during their opening road trip, but losing to a team that played two extra periods and traveled in the wee hours from Phoenix? No, this loss was all about what the Kings failed to do, specifically, their inability to play like a team instead of individuals.

These were the Kings of late last season: Forcing shots, failing to move without the ball, getting beat to loose balls, setting half-hearted screens, neglecting to pursue loose balls and rebounds, and most disturbingly, performing like solo artists on offense. It seemed like every player who touched the ball felt compelled to launch a jumper or create a shot for himself off the dribble, often dribbling through a crowd or attempting to score inside against double-teams. Hence, those 20 turnovers. The offense was painful to watch, every field goal laborious. Didn't they learn anything from the Lakers the other night?

Just a suggestion: More passing from Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins, Carl Landry; more screening, cutting and rebounding from Omri Casspi; more assertive floor leadership from Beno Udrih; more collective energy; a heightened defensive commitment; an interest in pursuing loose balls. In essence, the Kings were really selfish and sluggish, and they deserved to lose to a quality, but understandably fatigued Grizzlies team.


Tribute to Luke ...

Hollins and once of his assistants, Johnny Davis, missed the Grizzlies loss in Phoenix to attend Lucas' private funeral in Portland. The three were close friends and teammates on the marvelous Trail Blazers squad that won the 1977 NBA Championship. Anchored by Bill Walton - the big redhead was the team's only superstar - the squad that included Bobby Gross, Dave Twardzik and Larry Steele rallied from an 0-2 deficit to defeat the more individually talented Philadelphia 76ers (Julius Erving, Doug Collins, World B. Free, George McGinnis) in the best-of-seven NBA Finals. Dr. Jack Ramsay was the coach. After Saturday's win at Arco Arena, Hollins said several of the old Blazers (Walton among them) traveled to Portland and reminisced for hours after the private ceremonies. "We told stories and talked about the old days," said an exhausted Hollins, shaking his head. "It was tough to miss the (Phoenix) game, but we all wanted to be there. Luke was a great friend, a great player."

For those who might not remember: Lucas' persona as a fierce, bruising, elbow-throwing power forward overshadowed his talents: He was a big, fundamentally skilled frontcourt player who could shoot, rebound, defend and pass. He was also smart and unselfish, a "wonderful" teammate, as Walton has described him, and he was a witty, engaging personality. After years out of basketball, he was delighted to finally join Nate McMillan's Blazers' staff, only to be diagnosed with bladder cancer. When it was announced he would not be returning this season, it was obvious his health had deteriorated. Condolences to the family.

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

Not that this comes as surprise, but after Kings practice ended today, coach Paul Westphal announced that Samuel Dalembert will replace rookie DeMarcus Cousins in the starting lineup.

Dalembert, the veteran who was obtained from the Philadelphia 76ers offseason in the off-season trade involving Spencer Hawes and Andres Nocioni, will make his first start Saturday night against the Memphis Grizzlies at Arco Arena.

Westphal cited a number of reasons for the change, including his desire to improve the interior defense and getting his club off to quicker starts.

Cousins, the No.5 overall pick, said he was fine with the move and that he had actually thought about suggesting the change to his coach.

November 2, 2010
Kings leftovers ...

Given the late finish to the Kings' victory over the Toronto Raptors in the home opener, here are a few other notables:

• Except for "Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Adrienne Maloof-Nassif, the entire Maloof family was in attendance. Brothers Joe, Gavin, George and Phil agonized throughout the opening half. Then, of course, they appeared on the verge of suffering heart attacks when the Kings grabbed the lead and won the game. The only one who always seems to enjoy herself is matriarch Colleen Maloof. She shouts at the refs, gets angry at the players and the coach, but maintains a sense of humor throughout. At halftime, she said she hadn't seen Episode II of the "Housewives" series, but jokingly said she hears that her daughter is pretty good.

• Before the game, rookie DeMarcus Cousins said he had heard all about Reggie Evans and the burly forward/center's bag of basketball tricks. The elbows to the gut. The tug on an opponent's shorts. The sly shove while positioning for the rebound. Evans (19 boards) torched Cousins early, but the rookie had another excellent fourth quarter and finished with 16 points. He also passed for two assists (zero turnovers), and threw up his hands only once in frustration ... in only 17 minutes.

• The Kings haven't started the season with a 3-1 record since 2003-04. It's all about perspective, though. They were 13-14 a year ago when they plummeted.

• More on this later, but in my less-than-humble opinion, that fourth quarter was the most impressive of Tyreke Evans' young career. He played fast -- took the ball off the boards and busted downcourt, found teammates in rhythm with passes, was quick, explosive, decisive with his dribble-drives, dove for loose balls, grabbed rebounds. (But we won't go into detail about his bathroom break that extended into the second half). If Tyreke continues to play like this, that Rookie of the Year award will be the least of it ...

• Beno Udrih's maturation continues. The one-time disgruntled Spurs backup is in excellent shape, has mastered that leaning mid-range jumper so few players possess these days, converts crucial free throws, and commands the respect of his teammates as a coach on the floor.

• The Kings don't win this game without Samuel Dalembert's defense and 14 rebounds. The veteran center, acquired in the offseason in the Spencer Hawes trade, was expected to miss four to six weeks with a thigh injury that sidelined him throughout preseason. "I can't explain it," said coach Paul Westphal, "but Samuel really wanted to come back and play."

• The final word comes from Omri Casspi, after he influenced the outcome of the game despite failing to grab a rebound. "I have never done this," he said, shaking his head. "No rebounds in 32 minutes? I can't believe it. I just couldn't get my hands on the ball."

After a wild and crazy night at Arco Arena, I don't know what was the bigger surprise: the size of the crowd or the Kings' comeback from a 17-point deficit. The home opener usually draws well, of course, and tickets were selling pretty briskly in recent weeks. But that was before Giants, World Series, and a scheduling conflict with Kings-Raptors.

With the Giants-Rangers World Series potential clincher scheduled for 4:57 p.m, I expected the place to be half-empty. Instead, the game sold out earlier in the day, prompting Kings VP Mitch Germann to release a limited number of standing room only seats. The question was: how many no-shows? There definitely were vacant seats in the upper bowl, but several of us media types estimated a few thousand. It obviously was a smart move by the Kings to open the doors early and announce plans to televise the World Series on the big screen.

Additionally, while Kings-Raptors was ongoing, the TV screens in the concourse flipped to the World Series. City Councilman Steve Cohn was among those who escaped onto the concourse and crowded around a television to watch the ninth inning. After Brian Wilson struck out Nelson Cruz at 7:31, the crowd erupted (cellphones, IPads,etc.). Cohn hurried back to his seat for the second half. "Great night," the Councilman said later in the evening.

Paul Westphal is among a growing number of NBA coaches who are reducing the number of game-day shootarounds or abandoning the decades-long practice altogether.

After he held a lengthy, late-afternoon practice Sunday, the Kings coach decided against holding a traditional late morning shootaround prior to tonight's tipoff - a change in routine that he experimented with last season. "Mostly after back-to-backs. We still have time to be prepared," Westphal said, adding that the final pre-game details are presented about two hours before tipoff anyway. The concept of the morning shootaround was introduced in the 1960s by former Lakers coach Bill Sharman, who was attempting to curb his players' social activities the night before games. Yet with the advent of charter travel that begin in the late 1980s - Chuck Daly gets the credit for that - teams routinely arrive at their ensuing destination in the wee hours. Then, to wake up for a morning practice and play a game six or seven hours later? Exhausting.

Before everyone totally overreacts to David Stern's suggestion early today that contraction - or folding a few NBA francishes - is a possibility because of the ongoing economic crisis, please see this for what it is: Mere posturing and applying pressure on the Players Association as talks for a new collective bargaining agreement heat up. Dropping a few teams - and small market clubs in Memphis, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Sacramento are always the obvious targets - is not even a remote possibility. (Though you could certainly argue, the league's overall talent level would be greatly enhanced with fewer teams).

Clearly, Stern is playing hard ball. With the current agreement expiring next offseason and a lockout anticipated for 2011-12, many of the owners are insistent upon a hard cap. The small and mid-market owners also are demanding a larger percentage in revenue sharing, which they should. On Thursday, the longtime Commissioner addressed the dfalks about the need to lower player salalries by one-third, and on Friday, he conveniently throws contraction into the conversation! Contraction, of course, means a loss of roster spots - approximately 15 per team - and that simply is not going to happen.

To their credit, the Maloofs have largely shrugged off Stern's verbal slaps at the Cal Expo Board and the region's inability to come up with a financing mechanism for a new arena. They are still out there selling tickets, re-engaging the community, and most importantly, trying to improve the product on the court. Anyone who doesn't believe success and likeability are both necessary to sustain a community's interest in a professional franchise isn't paying attention. For the Maloofs - and the Kings' future here - it's all about putting bodies in the seats


First of all, this is not my idea of quality television. And for the purpose of full disclosure, I was in the middle of watching "Boardwalk Empire," Part IV, when a friend called and insisted that I turn on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" because Adrienne Maloof-Nassif was one of the featured stars. I actually met some of the women when Adrienne - the middle of the five Maloof siblings, and the only female - flew them all to a Kings-Lakers game last season. Anyway, the show is hilarious. To be so wealthy and so angst-ridden! And so honest! I can't wait until next week's episode. Seriously. Meantime, these are my favorite scenes: (1) Adrienne demonstrating her judo/kickboxing prowess by slamming one of her trainers to the floor; (2) Adrienne and her husband, Paul, arguing about politics; she's a Democrat, he's a Republican; and (3) One of the women taking her lap dog along when the group dines at Grange in the Citizen Hotel. For a minute there, I thought I was back in France. I was sort of left wondering whether I could bring my own Maltese (Taffy, eight pounds, four ounces) along the next time I dropped in for drinks or dinner. Nah, pbrobably not.

I just left the Kings locker room, where several of the players (and special assistant Pete Carril) were watching NBA Entertainment's documentary about Vlade Divac and the late Drazen Petrovic. "Once Brothers," which is airing on ESPN's as part of its "30 for 30" series, chronicles the ill-fated friendship of Divac and Petrovic. The two were best friends and stars on Yugoslavia's powerful national teams in the late 1980s, but when the war in the Balkans erupted in 1991, the Croatian Petrovic abruptly ended his relationship with Divac, who is a Serb.

Former Monarchs coach and general manager John Whisenant has been hired to fulfill both roles with the WNBA's New York Liberty. The press conference is later today. Whisenant, who guided the Monarchs to the 2005 WNBA Championship and a return to the Finals the following year, has been out of work since the Monarchs folded last December. His plan all along has been to remain in the WNBA in some capacity - preferably coaching. He won't be able to enjoy Madison Square Garden for the next few summers, however. With the facility undergoing renovations, the Liberty will play their games at the Prudential Center in Newark. And by the way, one of Whiz's favorite players - Nicole Powell - is the club's starting small forward.

After watching the tribute that Braves manager Bobby Cox received following his series-ending loss to the Giants earlier tonight, I couldn't help but compare his exit to that of recently-departed Golden State Warriors coach Don Nelson. You can debate the merits -of retaining or releasing Nelson, argue about his offensive-oriented philosophy, but given his contributions to the NBA for the better part of five decades, he deserved a more gracious finale. He leaves - oh-so-quietly - with the most coaching victories and five championship rings as a player with the Boston Celtics. And when you talk to NBA types, even those who are not Nelson fans, they acknowledge his defensive influence on the game during his early years coaching the Milwaukee Bucks, and more recently, his offensive innovations with the Warriors and Mavericks. He went from favoring isolation plays (to exploit new defensive rules) to virtually despising the one-on-one style. I'm with him on that. One-on-one play is ruining a game that, at its best, is fluid, graceful and athletic, featuring ball and body movement. I still don't understand Nellie's late-in-life aversion to defense, but he certainly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, which could very well happen next year.

As for Cox, who retires as Braves manager at age 69: I was part of the Atlanta Constitution's coverage team during the Braves' great run in the 1990s, and from a professional perspective, the experience ranks among my favorites. The clubhouse that included Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Greg Maddux, Terry Pendleton, David Justice, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Mark Wohlers, Jeff Blauser, Mark Lemke, Rafael Belliard, Pat Corrales, Mike Stanton, John Schuerholz, etc., was unique, dynamic, entertaining, professional. The players/coaches were enlightening and consistently accommodating. It reminded me of the NBA in the 1980s, when Magic Johnson's Lakers and Larry Bird's Celtics would share their thoughts for hours, filling our notebooks, sharing anecdotes, and routinely, critically dissecting their performances before we could.

The cerebral, exacting Maddux - known as "Doggie" -- offered tutorials at his locker. Justice would deliberately say something controversial to keep things interesting. The thoughtful, good-natured Glavine - who completely understood our jobs and our deadlines - would sneak into a side room and give pregame interviews on days he pitched --- violating tradition; he laughed when anyone suggested he throw inside once in a while. (The Braves' approach is to pitch away, away, away, away).

Once, I arrived at the stadium about four hours early and noticed Cox leaning against the railing near the dugout, staring blissfully at the empty field. "Ms. Voisin," he said, smiling, "how can you can not enjoy this life?"

So, here's to Bobby, for an incredible run. We won't even mention that he only won one World Series with a starting rotation of Maddux-Glavine-Smoltz. He needed a closer, period. And here's hoping ... Nellie gets his day.

Otis Hughley, the new Kings assistant who coached DeMarcus Cousins in high school, is something of a prep coaching phenom in in Alabama. But we knew that. During a conversation after Monday's practice, however, Hughley revealed that he was the starting point guard (1978-82) for St. Anthony's High School in Newark, N.J. - and for Hall of Fame prep coach Bob Hurley, Sr. Hughley recalled the days when Bobby, Jr., the former Kings point guard, would hang around after practice and retrieve jump shots. "Bobby and his brother Danny were great kids," said Hughley, smiling, "and their father is something else." Hughley played college football before devoting his energies to coaching. He worked at the high school, college and minor league level before joining the Kings.

It's weird not having the Kings preseason games televised, but after contacting sources around the league, blackouts during the exhibition season have become the norm. Excluding high-profile teams like the Lakers, most teams (Blazers, Warriors, Kings, etc.), are eliminating preseason television broadcasts - mostly for economic reasons. A Warriors spokesman told me earlier tonight that he can't recall the club broadcasting a preseason game in his 12 seasons with the organization ...

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

In a terrific documentary for ESPN's "30 for 30" series that airs Tuesday, beloved Kings center Vlade Divac narrates the story of how his doomed friendship with the late Drazen Petrovic dissolved during the war in the Balkans in the 1990s. Petrovic, who is half-Croatian, stopped talking to his boyhood friend, Divac, a Serb, when war broke out in Yugoslavia in 1990. Kings fans are familiar with Vlade's story - he was embraced in a collective huge while the United States bombed Belgrade in 1999. But the documentary - that I write about for Sunday's Bee - provides footage of Yugoslavia's powerful 1990 national team, chronicles Vlade's visit to his hometown and to the home of Petrovic's parents in Zagreb, and offers revealing interviews with Radja and Kukoc.

I spoke with Vlade a few hours, in between his publicity appearances at ESPN's headquarters in Bristol., Conn., and he is really pleased with the piece. More to come in Sunday's Bee.

October 6, 2010
Kings, the day after

Ok, so before heading over to San Francisco for Giants media day, the KIngs were so entertaining last night against the Phoenix Suns that I felt compelled to note a few final thoughts:

• The ball movement was excellent, resulting in 24 assists. Tyreke Evans (five) and Omri Casspi (four) were the leaders in that category, but Pooh Jeter, Carl Landry and Beno Udrih threw some timely, beautiful passes. Because of the commotion over the newcomers, Udrih has been a bit overlooked during camp. But unlike several of his teammates, he arrived in excellent shape and appears slimmer than in the past. I still like Udrih running the point in the Evans-Udrih backcourt, especially as Tyreke develops his off-game skills. His three-point shot looks much improved, as advertised.

• The big men and big muscles. Samuel Dalembert and Hassan Whiteside pounded the weights during the offseason, as apparent from their bigger upper arms. Now, while we all scolded Vlade Divac for his lack of interest in cardio work and conditioning, but his aversion to becoming muscle-bound was right on. As everyone around here knows, Divac was amazingly durable. His theory was that it was more important to have a strong base than bulging biceps.

• Jason Thompson, Carl Landry and rookie DeMarcus Cousins set some excellent screens, freeing up teammates for jumpers and cuts to the basket.

• Cousins was terrific (16 points, 16 boards). He showed off his superb hands, quick feet, post skills, perimeter shot, and was a physical presence inside. Surprisingly, he had five turnovers and no assists, but the numbers don't reflect his ability to find cutters and shooters in the corners. As Paul Westphal said afterward, once he gets in shape .....

• One other thing about Cousins: The question is about maturity and his motor, but he stays after practices and works with the Kings coaches. And, he is a funny, funny young. This is going to be fun.

• According to one of the Suns officials, Hedo Turkoglu, who appeared sluggish and overweight during his disappointing season in Toronto last year, has bought into the Steve Nash/Grant Hill approach of eating right and improving flexibility. He looks much, much better. Hill, by the way, turned 38 on Tuesday.

Before a surprisingly entertaining preseason game between the Kings and Phoenix Suns at Arco Arena - most preseason games are ragged marathons because coaches use these games to evaluate their talent - I happened to observe a funny incident that occurred courtside. One-time Kings swingman Hedo Turkoglu shared a hug with current Kings president Matina Kolokotronis. For those who might have forgotten, during his rookie season, Hedo lived in the guest house at Kolokotronis' home in Fair Oaks. At the time, Kolokotronis was the attorney who negotiated his release from his former team in Turkey. "I told Hedo, 'I've been so busy, I forgot you were coming to town with the Suns," Kolotronis related. "He said, 'thanks a lot.'"

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

As promised, world class sprinter Carmelita Jeter flew to Sacramento for her brother's NBA preseason debut Tuesday night against the Phoenix Suns.

Pooh Jeter finished with six points, two steals and two assists, and also as promised, changed the tempo with his quickness.

"I have practice at 9 a.m. (Wednesday) at UCLA," said Carmelita, who was seated with parents Gloria and Eugene, Sr., "and I have a 6 a.m. flight back to L.A., but I couldn't miss this. I won't be here Thursday, but I'll be here a lot this season. I was really proud of (Pooh). I thought he played really well." Pooh's older sister owns the second-best time in the womens' 100 meters - her time eclipsed only by the late Florence Griffith Joyner.

Also in attendance: Garry St. Jean, the former Kings coach/general manager who later became an interim head coach and executive with the Golden State Warriors. "Saint," who has been out of basketball since 2004, has been hired as a consultant by the New Jersey Nets. He was at Arco Arena to check out the talent.

While waiting to speak with Kings center Samuel Dalembert after today's practice, I had a chance to catch up with Kings media relations official Chris Clark, who missed the first few days of training camp while serving on jury duty. The political science grad was the foreman for the jury that convicted former Sacramento County deputy sheriff Chu Vue of plotting the murder of fellow corrections officer Steve Lo. And clearly, he was affected - he sounded almost overwhelmed - by the experience. "It was life-changing," Clark said, while leaning on a treadmill at the practice facility. "You leave there with assurances that our system works. When you go through a trial like that, and you see the diligence of the lawyers and the judge, it leaves you with an appreciation of how we do things in America. The case itself had it all. It was as nuanced and detailed a case as you could ever hope to serve on."

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

Former Kings head coach Kenny Natt - OK, a head coach ever so briefly (as Reggie Theus' replacement for the final four months of the 2008-09 season) - would have joined Don Nelson's staff had the longtime Golden State Warriors coach been retained by the new ownership group.

Nelson's plan was to hire Natt as a workout/player development type, which is the role he fufilled during his lengthy tenure on Jerry Sloan's staff in Utah.

Though hired as Theus' lead assistant here in Sacramento, the reserved, understated Natt was quickly overpowered by the more dynamic, aggressive Chuck Person, who quickly become Theus' major confidante. Person was released with Theus, but was hired by Phil Jackson and earned a championship ring last season with the Lakers.

Reached at his family home in Yavne, Israel, a few minutes ago, Kings forward Omri Casspi said he was "hurt" upon learning that a mural featuring his likeness was defaced with a swastika. The incident at 16th and R Street in midtown is being investigated as a possible hate crime by the local authorities.

"It's been all over the news over here," said Casspi. "Everybody's talking about it. It's hurtful to think that this is 2010, and there are still people like that out there. I almost don't know what to say. It's probably just some idiot who wants some publicity. But I know the people in Sacramento, and they have been wonderful to me. I know they must feel bad about this. Same thing with the Kings. I'll just let the police handle this and focus on having a great season."

Casspi, who is the first Israeli to play in the NBA, returns to Sacramento on Monday to begin preparing for his second training camp. He spent part of last week participating in a basketball camp designed to foster friendships among Israeli and Palestinian youngsters. The event at the Jewish-Arab community center in Jaffa was sponsored by the Peres Center for Peace, in conjunction with the NBA.

I totally indulged my career-long obsession with international basketball and David Stern's behind-the-scenes global peace campaign during a half-hour conversation this afternoon with Omri Casspi, who was calling from Israel at about 1 a.m., his time. After 24 hours of failing to connect because of the 10-hour time difference, I was finally able to ask Omri about his involvement in the basketball camp sponsored by the Peres Peace Center and the NBA. The idea mirrors that of the NBA's Basketball Without Borders - in this case, getting Israeli and Palestinian youngsters together and fostering tolerance and understanding through sports.

Before going to the camp in Jaffa, Omri and his brother, Eitan, were invited to Israeli president Shimon Peres' home in Jerusalem. Besides the serious conversation, there were lighter moments. "At first I felt kind of bad," said Casspi, only half-jokingly. "I got out of bed and drove with my brother first thing in the morning (approximately 45 minutes from Yavne to Jerusalem). When we got there, Mr. Peres had already taken his morning jog. And he's 87 years old! I just woke up and drove to meet him, didn't even work out yet. He is pretty amazing ..."

Casspi also revealed that he signed his first official sponsorship deal - with the Israeli airline El Al. He was scheduled to film commercials for the airline within the next few days, then return to Sacramento to get ready for training camp.

By Ailene Voisin
avoisin@sacbee.com

Israel lost to Montenegro earlier today in the EuroBasket 2011 qualifying tournament, but finished as the second-best team and ensured its participation next September in the games in Lithuania. Omri Casspi scored 18 points and collected four rebounds in the loss, and had a decent tournament overall. After last year's abysmal showing in the Euros, the Israelis are elated about being back in the international mix.

On another note, the fatigue/injury factor that has diluted the talent pool at the ongoing World Championships in Istanbul strengthens the case for the international game as a showcase for the younger stars. In other words, let the kids play ... and let Dirk Nowitzki, Manu Ginobili, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, etc., use the offseason to rest their bodies and rehabilitate their injuries. Of course, while the rest of the world values the World Championships, the United States places a greater premium on the Olympics, which means there will be the usual pressure on NBA stars to compete in 2012 in London.

When I contacted Joe Maloof earlier today for a reaction to the NBA's one-game suspension of Tyreke Evans (reckless driving), the Kings co-owner was in Los Angeles preparing for Saturday's skateboarding competition in Orange County. He loves this stuff - the Maloof Money Cup that consists of competitions in New York and Orange County, and soon, South Africa and Portland. Anyway, he mentioned that Saturday's event would be televised live on Fox (noon), and almost as an aside, revealed that the entire family (Colleen, Adrienne, Joe, Gavin, Phil, George) was interviewed Thursday by CNN host Larry King. Frankly, Joe was very excited about the skateboarding event, and I wanted to know more about the Larry King/CNN/family chronicles. Anyway, the show that will air on CNN on Sept. 18 is a conversation about the family's history, how their economic empire was built in the liquor business in New Mexico, the impact of George Maloof, Sr.'s early death and their former ownership of the Houston Rockets, etc. as well as their future plans.

Too stern a penalty?

David Stern's decision to suspend Evans was a foregone conclusion. The only thing that surprised me was the length of the suspension. I had guessed two games. Tyreke might have helped himself with the way he has handled the situation.

NYC, Orange County, South Africa, Portland ....

While I was speaking with Joe Maloof about Evans, Kings, Maloof Money Cup, among other things, I asked when he as going to build a skate park in Sacramento. He explained the construction of the facilities as follows: The Maloof family enters into a private/public partnership with a respective city, the city and/or county donates the land, the Maloofs build the structure and hold a Maloof Money Cup event, then depart and leave the park for the kids. "I have had 27 cities call me and ask about doing this," Joe said Friday. Pressed about Sacramento, he said: "I think Sacramento is a great market for skateboarding. It's very, very popular here, and it's just going to get bigger. What I'm thinking is ... when we get the new arena built, we can build a skateboarding park adjacent to it. And I want to do it right." Meantime, I'm going to pitch my bosses on a trip next summer to Kimberley, South Africa. Covering a skating event there would be very cool. We loved those snowboarders at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, remember ....


The number of NBA players withdrawing from the upcoming World Championships in Turkey due to injury, the fatigue factor or lack of interest continues to grow. Let's just say ... Team USA isn't the only world power competing in Istanbul this weekend without its superstars. Longtime Argentina star (and former Kings forward) Andres Nocioni withdrew because of an ankle injury suffered July 31. He was urged by doctors and his new bosses in Philadelphia to stay off the ankle for several weeks. This will be tough for Noc, now of the 76ers. The Argentines, who early last decade emerged as legitimate threats in all the major international competitions, already are without Manu Ginobili (fatigue, ankle woes). Nocioni was a major contributor for his country at the Athens (gold) and Beijing (bronze) Olympics.


Score one for the rookie. The Kings' Hassan Whiteside threw out the first pitch a few minutes ago at the River Cats-Fresno Grizzlies game at Raley Field, and while his velocity was lacking, he avoided tossing a one-bouncer into the dirt. Whiteside, who has been in town finding an apartment and working out, received some pitching tips at the practice facility earlier in the day from Kings stats guru Darryl Arata. While offering his own version of a pitching windup, Arata advised the 7-foot Whiteside to overthrow the ball if necessary. "Most of the people throw the ball in the dirt," noted the longtime Kings publicist, who remains an invaluable resource for us media types. "Throw it higher, harder, so it doesn't bounce."

Rajon Rondo's withdrawal from the U.S. national team - presumably to avoid being the final cut - ensured that one of Mike Krzyzewski's favorite players (Stephen Curry) was included on the 12-man roster. Though the Warriors second-year point guard has been inconsistent in the exhibition games leading up to this weekend's World Championships in Istanbul, his quick recovery from a mild ankle sprain enabled him to withstand any threat from Rondo and kept him apace of Eric Gordon. From the opening day of camp in Las Vegas, Krzyzewski has praised Curry and repeatedly stated his preference for guards and wings who excel at three basic elements: (a) they can shoot, (b) they don't need the ball a lot and (c), they apply defensive pressure at the other end. Hence, his selections of Kevin Durant (a lock long before the training camp), Derrick Rose, Chauncey Billups, Gordon, Russell Westbrook, Rudy Gay, Danny Granger, Lamar Odom and Andre Iguodala, who made the squad because of his length, defense and sheer athleticism. The thin frontcourt of Kevin Love and center Tyson Chandler remains the main concern, as was apparent in Sunday's thrilling exhibition win over Spain. Get used to seeing the Lakers' wiry Odom at center.

What would Tyreke Evans have done?

It's really unfortunate that Tyreke Evans sprained his left ankle on the opening day of camp and never had the chance to participate. I was as curious as anyone to see how the second-year guard adapted to Krzyzewski's system. Partly because the team is so heavy with guards and wings, Krzyzewski planned to experiment with the 6-foot-6 Evans at two-guard and combo forward. In other words, he wanted to evaluate the Rookie of Year's play off the ball. Even if Tyreke had failed to make the final roster - and he was a longshot all along - this would have been a terrific tutorial. He would have been exposed to an uptempo style, surrounded by excellent passers and versatile teammates. Maybe next time ...

Spain without Jose Calderon

Jose Calderon's injury weakens Spain ... sort of. The Spanish team rallied when Ricky Rubio returned to the lineup. His playmaking, harassing defense and energy earned praise from the Americans. His mid-range jumper looks better, as well. He might not be ready for the NBA, but it might be time for him to succeed the enigmatic Calderon, who is coming off a terrible season with the Raptors.

August 23, 2010
NBA loses one of its best

This was a tough weekend for NBA insiders. Former Detroit Pistons media relations director Matt Dobek was found dead at his home late Saturday, at age 51. Though an official cause of death has not been revealed, several sources within the league confirmed that the longtime Pistons official took his own life.

Regardless of cause of death, this is terribly sad. Matt became Pistons media director the same year (1981) I started covering the league as a beat writer, and I believe I speak for a lot of us who held him in the highest regard. He was one of those NBA p.r. types who worked ridiculous hours and effectively straddled the line between being protective of players and coaches, and understanding that, in the NBA, personality and exposure sells tickets.

Accordingly, the Pistons were always a blast to cover, particularly during the Bad Boys run in the late 1980s. Bill Laimbeer was cranky, Isiah Thomas mercurial, and Dennis Rodman, uh, eccentric, but they were professional, accommodating, forthcoming, and continuing through the Doug Collins, Grant Hill, Larry Brown eras, nothing short of fascinating.

Dobek, who was essentially married to the job and particularly close to longtime coach Chuck Daly, also accompanied the handful of us journalists covering the original Dream Team during its travels to Portland, La Jolla and Monte Carlo prior to the 1992 Barcelona Games. Yes, he grumbled that Isiah was left off the roster. Yes, he wondered what Christian Laettner was doing on the team. But he managed to deal with it, and most importantly, helped ensure tremendous access to Magic, Bird, Jordan, Barkley, etc.

In a surprise to just about everyone withing the league, Matt was fired by the new management group in May - allegedly for leaking information to potential owners. While I can't profess to know what that was all about, I do know the Pistons ownership/management has been an absolute mess since Bill Davidson, the man known as "Mr. D," died in 2009. Alas, my final recollection of Matt is a fond one: While covering the Monarchs-Detroit Shock WNBA Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills in 2006, he offered to show up early and give me a tour of the building. He was eager to show off the millions of dollars Davison had spent in renovations. (The facility was built the same year as Arco, but for twice the price, and constructed to last decades). Afterward, Matt watched the game in the owner's suite with Joe Dumars, then came down to the media room to see if anyone needed any of the writers needed anything. Typical.

Sincere, sincere, condolences to the family.

That 10-hour time difference from Sacramento to Tel Aviv complicates matters, but after days of playing phone tag, I finally heard back from Omri Casspi a short while ago. The Kings second-year forward is playing for the Israeli national team in the 2011 European Championship pre-qualifying tournament, and as of today, helping with final preparations for his brother's (Eitan) wedding. Jason Thompson and Kings strength/conditioning coach Daniel Shapiro are among the 600 invited guests for this evening's festivities in Tel Aviv. According to Casspi, Shapiro, who is also Jewish, had not been to Israel since he was six months old.

"It's been pretty incredible," said Casspi. "JT and Daniel were on the same flight. They arrived just before our (national team) game Tuesday night against Italy, so they got to see what it was like playing in these international games. The building (Nokia Arena, home of Maccabi Tel Aviv) was packed, like it's never been before. It was crazy, wild. JT was a famous person. Everybody wanted his autograph and photos. But we lost the game, and I felt terrible afterward. We are deep in the mud now - we have to win next Monday in Latvia, or we're out of the competition. We lost a couple games we had no business losing. Now, it's going to be really hard to advance for next summer."

Casspi, who leaves Sunday for Latvia, is arranging private tours of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea for his two Kings companions. "JT is really interested in the history," he added, speaking in the wee hours, "so that's been great. Shippy (Shapiro) is working him out today at the (Nokia) arena. He's in great shape. I'm so happy they're here. I love those guys ...."

Omri Casspi's Israeli team lost to Italy several hours ago in the pre-qualifying tournament for next year's European Championships. The loss at the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv - the homecourt of Maccabi Tel Aviv - was standing room only, including Kings forward Jason Thompson. JT is in Tel Aviv to attend the wedding of Casspi's brother, Eitan, who befriended several of the Kings while living with his brother during Omri's rookie season. One of my Israeli colleagues covering the tournament said that Thompson was quickly recognized and swarmed by fans. As for the Israeli team ... this was a bad loss. They still hold the tie-breaker against Italy, but could wind up having to play in a "last chance" tournament for next year's Euros. The Italians were led by Andrea Bargnani (26) and Marco Belinelli (14). Casspi, who scored 30 points and dominated in his previous outing, finished with 20, but was only 5-of-14 from the field. He did collect 10 boards, however. I'll catch up with in the next few days. We've played phone tag recently because of the 10-hour time difference.

Ruthie Bolton, who was among the local sports celebrities (and Jamie Foxx) sweating it out at Bobby Jackson's annual charity golf tournament at Catta Verdera in Lincoln, revealed that she will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Class of 2011 Class. The other names will be disclosed on Nov. 16 at halftime of the State Farm Tipoff Classic. The induction ceremony is scheduled for June 11. An original Monarch and USA gold medalist, Ruthie currently earns a living as a local fitness instructor and as a representative for the WNBA and USA Baskeball in various ventures. "I'm really excited about the induction," she said. "I had a good career, though I wish it had lasted longer." As for her golf swing ... Ruthie wasn't going there. She spent the day pushing her 15-month-old daughter, Hope, around in a stroller and volunteering at a basketball booth.

Jackson plans to switch tourney dates

While taking a short breather a little while ago, Jackson said he will move the tournament to a weekend next year. He said several celebrities withdrew because of the Monday scheduling. Those in attendance included Matt Barnes, Mitch Richmond, Byron Russell, DeMarcus Nelson and comedian Jamie Foxx. Tryeke Evans showed up and mingled with fans, but didn't play. "The guys who came out here were great," said Jackson, now a member of the Kings basketball operations. "It's for a good cause. We'll do it again next year." Proceeds from the tournament benefit Camp Kesem, a national organization that arranges summer camp outings for youngsters whose parents are coping with cancer.

I returned a few hours ago from Reno, where I spent time about an hour with Eric Musselman after he was named head coach of the NBA Developmental League's Bighorns. The Bighorns are approaching their third season, and third as the Kings' affiliate. But in a move that makes much more geographic sense, the Golden State Warriors have replaced the New York Knicks as the Bighorns' other NBA affiliate.

A few other leftovers:

- Among his many stops, Bill Musselman, Eric's father, coached the Reno Bighorns of the defunct Western Basketball Association in 1978-79. "I barely remember it," the son said Thursday. "I think I was in the ninth grade."

- Jay Humphries, the former NBA guard/assistant who last season led the Bighorns to the playoffs, opted not to return when he was denied a pay raise. He is mulling an offer to coach in China.

- The press conference was held in a courtyard area at the Freighthouse District, a cozy entertainment venue that consists of four restaurants and borders the third base/lelt field line in the impressive Reno Aces (AAA) ballpark. After the 10:30 a.m. presser, Musselman and I chatted in the restaurant called "Duffy's Ale House." The location was great - about two blocks from the downtown hotels.

- The Bighorns' original owner is current Minnesota Timberwolves president and former Indiana Pacers executive David Kahn. (For all the bashing he's talking about his questionable personnel moves, Kahn was the brains and the architect behind the stunning Conseco Fieldhouse). Midway into the team's first season, he sold the franchise to a local ownership group that also includes Pacers owner Herb Simon - and also owns the Aces.


RENO - I just spent about an hour with Eric Musselman after he was officially named head coach of the Reno Bighorns of the NBA's Developmental League. The press conference was held just outside the Reno Aces AAA baseball stadium, in a cozy little entertainment district (four restaurants and bars) known as the Freighthouse District. I'm writing a column about the former Kings coach for tomorrow's Bee. Meantime, Musselman revealed that he is bringing ex-Kings staffer Clay Moser with him. The two have longstanding ties, going back to their days with the Continential Basketball Association.

It shouldn't come as any surprise that former Kings/Warriors coach Eric Musselman is taking over the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Developmental League after a three-year hiatus from NBA coaching. (He recently coached the Dominican Republic national team). Whatever anyone says about Musselman, he isn't above performing the grunt work. I remember him from his early days with the Clippers, when he did everything from running errands to copying reports for his bosses in the ticket sales department. He subsequently worked as a head coach and general manager in the CBA and the USBL. His tenure with the Kings was probably doomed by his DUI, and he was fired in December, 2007. But, no, no surprise. This is a good hire for the Bighorns, and a smart career move for Musselman.

The NBA moments ago released its entire 2010-11 schedule, and once again, the Kings open the season on the road. This time it's a three-game swing to Minnesota (Oct.27), New Jersey (Oct. 29) and Cleveland (Oct. 30). The Kings return and host the Toronto Raptors in the home opener (Nov.1), and two nights later (Nov. 3), will be visited by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Other quick highlights: The Miami Heat visit on Dec. 11, the Houston Rockets on Dec. 19 and the Lakers close out the regular season here on April 13.

Seven of the Kings games will be televised nationally, with one on ESPN, two on TNT and four on NBA.TV.

We'll have more on the schedule later.

The 2010-11 is in the process of being released by the league. TNT released its 52-game schedule a few minutes ago and plans to air two Kings games: the Nov. 25 Kings-Clippers meeting in Los Angeles and the Jan. 6 Denver Nuggets visit to Arco Arena. NBA TV (home of Chris Webber and Kevin McHale) will show four Kings games: Nov. 21 Kings at Nuggets, Jan. 17 Kings at Hawks, Jan. 24 Kings at Blazers and the Thunder at Kings on April 11.

August 9, 2010

I just got word that the Kings have hired DeMarcus Cousins' high school coach, Otis Hughley, as an assistant. Hughley replaces Bryant Gates, the former D-League coach who took an assistant's job with the New Orleans Hornets. Hughley, 46, is a dynamo in Alabama prep coaching circles. He led LeFlore High to six straight regional appearances and the 6A state championship in 2007 before moving only months ago to Blount High in Prichard, Ala. Interestingly, he was a fixture at the recent NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, seated with Cousins' agent (John Greig) and mother (Monique), and often was seen chatting with Kings officials. Now it makes sense.

Jason Thompson and Kings rookie Hassan Whiteside will be traveling to Las Vegas this weekend to participate in Tim Grgurich's annual skills camp at UNLV. The camp is for big men and guards, and though the respected Denver Nuggets assistant does little promotion, the slots fill quickly with NBA executives serving as his pitchmen. Grgurich also was a longtime UNLV assistant during Jerry Tarkanian's successful, if tarnished run that included the 1990 NCAA Championship. DeMarcus Cousins' agent, John Greig, attempted to get his client into the camp, but was unable to do so because of prior scheduling commitments. Cousins currently is working John Calipari's camp in Memphis.


While chatting earlier today with Tyreke Evans about his inevitable cut from Team USA because of an ankle injury, the only time his mood lightened was when I asked what he had planned for his 21st birthday (Sept. 19). He laughed, and said he was heading back to Vegas. "I spent too much time in my room," he said, referring to his lengthy stay in the desert while mostly watching the Kings Summer League team and, days later, mostly watching his NBA colleagues attempt to make the cut for the World Championship team. "That just made me tired. You can't do much in Vegas when you're not 21, just hang around in your room with friends." He also has a trip planned to Hawaii in the next few weeks.


Whither, the post players

One look at the 15 finalists for the 12-man Team USA roster is another reminder of everyone why 19-year-old DeMarcus Cousins is such an intriguing talent. The absence of skilled big men is scary, and of course, Mike Krzyzewski's biggest problem. Tyson Chandler and Brook Lopez - out of shape after a bout of mononucleosis - were the only two centers to make the initial cut. And based on comments Wednesday from USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo, Lopez is far from assured of accompanying the team to Istanbul.


USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo a few minutes ago named the finalists vying for 12 roster spots on the U.S. World Championship team, and as expected, Tyreke Evans was among the cuts. The Kings guard was virtually eliminated when he injured his left ankle during the opening day of practice in Las Vegas and sat out two of the final four practices, along with last Saturday's Blue-White scrimmage. I spoke with Tyreke earlier today, and he said Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski told him they appreciated his participation and expected him to remain within the "pool" of national team players.

The 15 players who will resume training Aug. 10 in New York are: Chauncey Billups, Tyson Chandler, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Danny Granger, Jeff Green, Andre Iguodala, Brook Lopez, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook.

Both Colangelo and Krzyzewski said it was possible that all 15 players could continue on to Madrid and Athens for additional training sessions prior to the World Games in Istanbul, beginning Aug. 28. And, obviously, with the dearth of big men, the premium is on ball pressure, ball movement and outside shooting. The team took a hit early last week when Amare Stoudemire withdrew because of insurance issues and David Lee became unavailable after breaking an index finger during a scrimmage.

Also trimmed from the roster were O.J. Mayo, Gerald Wallace and JaVale McGee.

With Tyreke Evans' sore left ankle forcing him to sit out two of Team USA's four practices, as well as Saturday's Blue-White scrimmage at UNLV, the Kings young star will be the easiest of cuts for national team czar Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski. An announcement was expected today, but according to USAB officials, has been moved back, probably to Wednesday. Evans, who suffered a sprain when he landed on an opponent's foot in the opening scrimmage, remained with the team and was treated by members of the USAB medical staff. Unless the injury fails to heal within the next week or so, no further tests are planned.

Team USA leftovers

Despite the glut of guards, Golden State's Stephen Curry emerged as a legitimate candidate for final 12-man roster that will represent the U.S. at the Aug. 28 World Championships in Istanbul. Throughout last week, Colangelo and Krzyzewski frequently referenced the importance of perimeter shooting in international play and lauded the Warriors point guard for his playmaking and off-ball skills.

Could this mean something?

I returned to Sac before Saturday's Blue-White scrimmage, but was told that Warriors general manager Larry Riley watched the exhibition in the Thomas & Mack arena - accompanied by members of the incoming ownership group. Both Riley and head coach Don Nelson expected to be fired if owner Chris Cohan - as had long been predicted - accepted Larry Ellison's bid. Instead, Cohan shocked the world (ok, the Bay Area) and went with an ownership group headed by Celtics minority owner Joe Lacob and Mandalay Entertainment CEO Peter Guber. Surely money had something to do with it. Lacob and Guber submitted their $450 million bid weeks before Ellison recognized the duo as a serious threat and increased his offering from $401 million to approximately $500 million. Too late. As for Riley and Nelson, their odds improve with every day that passes before training camp opens.

Tyreke Evan's sore left ankle continues bothering him. The Kings young guard, who among several young players trying out for the U.S. national team in Las Vegas, sat out Thursday's practice after experiencing discomfort. Evans landed on an opponent's foot while attempting a layup during Tuesday's opening day scrimmage. He iced the ankle immediately after the workout and received treatment and pain pills later that night. He participated in Wednesday's practice, but skipped Thursday's session at UNLV after experiencing a recurrence of swelling and soreness in the ankle.

With one practice remaining before Saturday's blue-white scrimmage, Evans says he will receive more treatment and test the ankle again before Friday workout. He understands better than anybody that his injury situation is hampering his prospects for making a roster that is very heavy in guards. Chauncey Billups, Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo are virtually assured spots on the 12-man team peparing for the Aug. 28 World Championships in Istanbul. The other candidates include Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, Stephen Curry.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski plans to trim the roster to 13 or 15 players after the weeklong Vegas camp. The team will then train in New York, Madrid and Athens before the final 12-man roster is submitted for the Worlds.

LAS VEGAS - Although his left ankle remains a little tender, Tyreke Evans practiced with Team USA Wednesday at UNLV. The Kings 6-foot-6 guard is embroiled in a tight competition to make the guard-heavy, 12-man roster that will represent the U.S. next month at the World Championships in Istanbul. "I got treatment on my ankle last night, and took some pain pills," said the Rookie of the Year. "It got a little swollen, but it should be okay. I'm wearing an ankle brace on it for support. That seems to help." The training camp here ends Saturday with a blue-white scrimmage. Coach Mike Krzyzewski plans to carry a 15-man roster for upcoming training tours in New York, Madrid and Spain.

July 20, 2010
Tyreke tweaks an ankle

LAS VEGAS - Tyreke Evans became the second casualty during the opening day of Team USA's week-long training camp at UNLV. The young Kings star said he "tweaked" his left ankle when he went up for a layup and came down on Tyler Zeller's foot. (Zeller is among the collegians competing here against the NBA stars vying for roster spots on the 2010 World Championships team). Evans iced the ankle for several minutes after practice and planned to undergo some treatment later at the hotel. He is hopeful of resuming practice Tuesday.

LAS VEGAS - While wandering toward the restroom outside the gym where U.S. national tryouts are ongoing, I happened upon Golden State Warriors GM Larry Riley. He was leaning against a wall, intently texting someone. "We just had our first injury," Riley said. "David Lee hit his hand on the rim, so we'll have to get it checked out. The good news is ... it was his off hand."

July 20, 2010
Tyreke covers up

LAS VEGAS - The first official training camp session for the USA men's national team began about an hour ago, and apparently to his surprise, Tyreke Evans learned that players were prohibited from wearing earrings during practices. One of the Team USA trainers resolved the situation by placing two large pieces of tape around the jewelry. It basically looked like Tyeke was running around two huge cotton balls sticking out of his ear.

LAS VEGAS - Let's just say that DeMarcus Cousins' clunker of a finale in the NBA Summer League -- a 1-for-12 performance -- is a physical wake-up call. Of sorts.

The Kings prize rookie was visibly, undeniably, understandably, exhausted following an intense 10-day prep for the upcoming season. Fortunately, the 6-foot-11 center won't ever have to play six games in seven nights. But clearly, he has to improve his stamina and conditioning for an 82-game regular season.

He faded during the final three games, lacking llft on his shots and the energy to run the floor and challenge opposing centers underneath. And the more frustrated he became, the more impatient he was offensively. He forced shots, shanked chippies, and strayed farther from the basket than necessary.

Yet he is so, so, so skilled, and at the very least, already is an instinctive rebounder and passer, and a very tough self-critic. Coach Paul Westphal spent several minutes speaking privately with the super intense youngster after Sunday's finale, finally eliciting a grin from the overall No.5 draft pick.

"He has so much ability, and he's very smart," Westphal noted. "One thing that would help ... he can do so many things, but he needs to focus on doing a few things well (offensively)."

LAS VEGAS - Former WNBA coach/superstar Nancy Lieberman, who last November was named coach of the D-League's Texas Legends franchise, has been in town for 10 days scouting players in the NBA Summer League. She stuck around until the very end, even endured the Kings 85-54 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the finale. "I've learned so much," said Lieberman, who will be the first woman to coach in the D-League. "Everything is so different in the mens game at this level, from the way the game is called, to the rules. I'm looking forward to the season." As is the case with the men who coach the WNBA, it will be interesting to watch the feisty, dynamic Lieberman transition to coaching men.

July 16, 2010
Cousins scores a triple

LAS VEGAS - Kings rookie DeMarcus Cousins wasn't happy with his effort Friday against the Toronto Raptors, but his effort was a rarity. "He won't ever have a triple-double like this in the NBA," cracked Kings coach Paul Westphal, after his young center finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 personal fouls in the loss to Toronto in the NBA Summer League. While players are disqualified after committing six fouls in the league, this being the summer league, and a training ground for the kiddies, players are booted after their 10th foul. Cousins lasted 18 minutes, and while he reacted angrily to several of the calls (as did coach Mario Elie), Westphal had no problem with his displays of emotion.

"He really, really cares," said Westphal, "and to me, that's one of the best things about him. I don't know what people are talking about."

Nonetheless, there is far too much grumbling here about the officiating. If league officials are serious about clamping down on the incessant griping - and they should be - this would be the place to start.

LAS VEGAS - I arrived at the Thomas & Mack Center about an hour ago to perster as many NBA types as I could regarding DeMarcus. (The Kings play Toronto at 3 p.m.). So far, I haven't spoken with anyone - on the phone or in person - who isn't immensely impressed with the Kings rookie. I am really forward to seeing him live. You miss the nuances when watching these games on television or the Internet.

I originally planned to completely ignore the silly story in Wednesday's Las Vegas SUN regarding an investment group that allegedly has an agreement to buy an NBA team and relocate it to Las Vegas if an arena is built there - with public money! - but couldn't resist.

So after contacting a few NBA/Kings sources (some of whom were apoplectic), I'll keep it brief: Dream on. (And while people in Sacramento freaked out, didn't you just love the hint about the Detroit Pistons being the mystery team?)

First of all, the league has a very detailed, complicated process that requires potential owners to submit bids for franchises (see recent sale of New Jersey Nets, pending sale of Golden State Warriors, etc). The Board of Governors vets the candidates and selects the future owners. Any owner who wants to relocate a franchise has to separately apply for relocation - again, a very complex, extensive undertaking. The league's by-laws list very specific criteria for evaluating potential markets - implemented as a legal response to the San Diego Clippers' attempted (and subsequently) successful move to Los Angeles in 1984. The major factors include population base, size of television market, financial viability of the region, etc. Finally ... good luck getting an arena built in Vegas with public financing during these horrific financial times. There aren't very many fond memories of the 2007 All-Star Game there, either.

May happen someday, but it won't be soon, and it won't be the Kings ...

I don't arrive at the Las Vegas Summer League until Thursday afternoon, but given the way my phone was ringing all evening, I am increasingly eager to see rookie

DeMarcus Cousins in person. (Monitoring his unofficial Kings/NBA debut via the internet isn't the same thing as being in the gym!). Within a period of hours this afternoon/evening, I heard from several NBA types - including coaches - who watched the Kings/Pistons game and are ready to anoint Cousins as a franchise player and a top-tier center. The feet, the hands, the passing, the instincts ... can't wait to see the kid.


Kings draft choices DeMarcus Cousins and Hassan Whiteside double-teamed members of the media in Arco Arena about an hour ago while they were officially introduced as members of the organization. Cousins, the 6-foot-11 center out of Kentucky who was selected with the No.5 overall draft pick, will wear jersey No. 15. Whiteside, a 7-foot center/forward from Marshall, will wear No.33. He chose the number because he was still available for the Kings to take him with the 33rd overall pick.

"We feel like we added size, skill, length, and ability to our frontcourt," Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie said in his introductory comments. "They both have a lot of natural ability and upside potential. We're looking for them coming in, being productive, helping our team grown and win more games. I'm looking forward to watching them play and working with them."

Cousins was accompanied by his agent, John Greig of Seattle. Whiteside arrived with his agent, Andre Buck, and his mother, Debbie Whiteside. During the media session, a beaming Debbie Whiteside sat among the reporters and snapped photos of the proceedings.

"This is just an incredibly proud moment for me," she said, having flown from her home in Gastonia, N.C. "Sitting there (New York) during the draft the other night, watching him slip, was really, really hard. But I think he's in a good place, and people are going to really like him here."

Cousins, looking resplendent in a silver blue suit, and light green shirt and tie, revealed that Sacramento was his preferred destination all along. "I'm glad to be here," said Cousins. "I hope I can come in and contribute and help us get some more wins."


While most of the Kings front office types were fixated on DeMarcus Cousins several days prior to Thursday's NBA Draft, they were looking at two Xavier swingman Jordan Crawford and Marshall center Hassan Whiteside for their second-round selection (No.33). From what I have been told, at least two teams offered to buy the pick for approximately $2.5 million. Crawford went 27th to the New Jersey Nets and was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. As the second-round began, and it looked as if Whiteside might be available, Geoff Petrie and the Maloofs met privately. When Petrie asked whether the family wanted to sell the pick or take the player, matriarch Colleen Maloof replied, "Take the player." Not bad for Mama Maloof's "war room" debut.


We're still waiting for Geoff Petrie and Paul Westphal to makes themselves available, but one Kings source said wild cheering broke out inside the war room at 4:54 p.m. ... when the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Wesley Johnson (No.4). This meant DeMarcus Cousins would be available for the Kings at No.5. Petrie and his staff had been locked in on the Kentucky center for a while, but as late as Wednesday night, were increasingly worried that he would not be available. More later.


While the Kings spent the day hoping DeMarcus Cousins is available at No.5 in Thursday's NBA Draft, as my colleague Jason Jones has maintained for a while now, I also heard an interesting little tidbit: Colleen Maloof is expected to be in the war room for the proceedings. Though co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof participate annually, this will be a first for the family matriarch. She apparently enjoyed herself so much at the downtown Lottery party that she decided to see what the fuss (and all that tension) is all about.


As the NBA Draft approaches, the extended absences of senior vice-president/general counsel Jason Levien is prompting questions about his role within the Kings organization. A former attorney and player agent - Hedo Turkoglu, Kevin Martin and Omri Casspi are ex-clients - Levien was hired in Nov., 2005, to assist Geoff Petrie with contract negotiations, salary cap matters and other basketball-related issues.

The past several weeks, however, Levien has missed most of the player workouts and rarely been seen on the premises. When I asked Petrie about the situation after the Samuel Dalembert press conference earlier today, the basketball president was even more tight-lipped than usual. "I don't know what to tell you," he said. "He's (Levien) currently employed. That's all I can say." When pressed about his one-time close associate's extended absences, Petrie added, "He's been working outside the building on other assignments."

Though the relationship between Petrie and Levien has become increasingly strained - for whatever reasons - Levien was given additional duties on the business side three months ago when Matina Kolokotronis replaced business president John Thomas. A New York native whose wife is a high-ranking executive with Forbes magazine, Levien remains close with Kolokotronis and co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof. The brothers in the past have touted Levien as Petrie's eventual successor.

In a brief conversation, Kolokotronis acknowledged that Levien has been much more closely involved with business issues, including the team's involvement in construction of a downtown arena. One source indicated that the organization's higher-ups plan to meet within the next few days to resolve matters.

Geoff Petrie is known for keeping his NBA Draft thoughts to himself -- cracking the Pentagon can't be this hard -- but he was adamant about one thing earlier today: It would take a phenomenal offer for him to move the No.5 pick.

The Kings basketball president sounds stressed out, as do most GMs with high Lottery picks, but is convinced the Kings will get a quality player.

Assuming they keep the pick, and also assuming that one of the teams choosing ahead of them will -- as usual -- throw a complete wrench in the process, the Kings are still looking at a group that consists of Wesley Johnson, Derrick Favors, DeMarcus Cousins and Greg Monroe.

More to come, as Thursday's Big Bash approaches.


LOS ANGELES - The mood inside Staples Center has swung from pregame exuberance to early jitters. Maybe this is why: The team that led after the first quarter has won the previous five games of these NBA Finals. After the first period of Game 1? Celtics are up 23-14.


LOS ANGELES - While the Kings are holding a press conference to discuss the trade of Spencer Hawes and Andres Nocioni to the 76ers for center Samuel Dalembert, I'm in the press room at Staples Center setting up for Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Tipoff is about three hours away.

Without having a chance to speak with Geoff Petrie or Paul Westphal - I already have chatted about Dalembert with several of my league sources in Philadelphia - my initial reaction is this: The deal works for the Kings if (a) the offensive philosophy changes and (b) Dalembert's shotblocking and rebounding are utilized to trigger transition opportunities and exploit the team's youth and athleticism. Former 76ers coach Tony DiLeo did this very effectively before his replacement, Eddie Jordan, came in last year and implemented the more structured Princeton offense.

I thought the Kings needed to play faster last season, take better advance of Hawes' passing abilities, and absolutely improve the ball movement. Now, because Dalembert is not much of a halfcourt passer or scorer, it will be imperative to play uptempo. Tyreke Evans proved that he can create plays for himself, but if he's going to be the primary ballhandler, he has to learn to create for teammates. Beno Udrih also goes through stretches where he does a good job facilitating the offense, but too often becomes fixated on getting his own shots as well.

From a salary cap management perspective, the Kings dump Nocioni's contract (two years, approximately $13 million guaranteed, with an option year). Hawes has a year remaining on his rookie deal. Dalembert will earn about $14 million this season, but comes off the books next summer. The Kings can decide at that point whether to re-sign him or look elsewhere.


LOS ANGELES - About an hour ago, I approached ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy and teased him about his antiquated cellphone. While glancing at the Celtics and Lakers players warming up on the Staples Center court, the former Knicks/Rockets head coach was checking his messages regarding Tom Izzo's decision to remain at Michigan State and Steve Kerr's resignation as general manager of the Phoenix Suns. Van Gundy - who is superb on air - told me that Kerr is returning to his old job as a TNT analyst. I couldn't confirm the information, but it makes sense. Kerr is also excellent behind the microphone.

As for Van Gundy's apparent lack of interest in coaching again? "I hope I'll get another job," he said. "I think that will happen. I want to coach again at some point, just not now."


Before returning to L.A. for Game 6 and possibly Game 7 of the Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals, I polled a few Kings types about the series. Not that this should come as any great surprise, but Geoff Petrie pretty much summarized the sentiment within the organization: Everyone appreciates the Lakers talent, ivately are pulling for Ron Artest, but no one is wishing them the best. Petrie just laughed when I asked whether he held a grudge against his Southern California rivals.

The 2002 Western Conference finals seems like yesterday ... unless you've watched the Kings play the past few seasons!


LOS ANGELES - Among everything else that's been going on these past few days, I happened upon my former Los Angeles Times colleague Steve Springer. A Lakers beat writer during the 1980s - and co-author of the hilarious book "Showtime" that chronicles the transition from Paul Westhead to Pat Riley - Springer said he's working on Jeanie Buss' autobiography. Besides being Phil Jackson's companion, Buss is the team's highly respected executive vice-president of business operations.

But about the book's title, "Laker Girl?"

Ugh. I strongly urge the publishing company to reconsider.


LOS ANGELES - John Wooden's passing earlier this evening seems to be on everyone's mind down here. When I was talking with a colleague from the Boston Globe a few hours ago, he reminded me that we chatted with the UCLA icon at one of Donald Sterling's NBA Draft Lottery parties sometime in the late 1980s. Sterling's lavish Beverly Hills gatherings were legendary; he asked that all attendees wear white. (I, of course, wore my customary black). But at this particular event at his house near the Beverly Hills Hotel, the strangest sight occurred: While the ping pong balls were bouncing in the air, deciding the selection order for teams with the worst records, Wooden and Sterling sat nervously in front of a television, holding hands. The coach clasped a religious cross in his free hand.

Again, I can't recall exactly which draft this was, but I remember the Clippers types being disappointed by the outcome, so I'm thinking it was 1987. The Clips got the No.4 pick and drafted Reggie Williams out of Georgetown. With their other two first-round selections, they went for Joe Wolf (No.13) and Kenny Norman (No.19).

More than two decades later, though, I still can't imagine what Wooden and the oft-maligned, oft-sued Sterling had in common. Wooden was in his 80's at the time, but mentally was still very sharp. But hanging with Donald Sterling? I felt badly. The coach must have been really bored ...

June 4, 2010
Talent show at Staples

LOS ANGELES - After the Lakers and Celtics practiced earlier this afternoon at Staples Center, I walked toward the exit and sort of stumbled upon Magic Johnson, who was moving into the back tunnel area where the players and assorted celebrities park their cars. While chatting briefly with the Hall of Famer (and, ok, one other pesky journalist), a few other people joined the conversation. So how's this for talent? Byron Scott. Jalen Rose. Kobe Bryant. Ron Artest. And, of course, Earvin. After pestering them with a few more questions, I said goodbye and got out of the way. Watching from a distance, it looked like they were enjoying themselves. They were yucking it up pretty good. Their cars weren't too shabby, either. I don't know the exact models, but I know a Mercedes when I see one.


LOS ANGELES - John Wooden's failing health was a major topic of conversation at the Staples Center before Game 1 of these NBA Finals. I saw former UCLA small forward Marques Johnson pacing the hallways and speaking somberly with someone on his cellphone. No need to guess what the topic was. Johnson was a key member of Wooden's final NCAA Championship squad in 1974-75.

LOS ANGELES - So after a hellacious day of travel/traffic/rental car woes in L.A. - the angst minimized by a surprisingly candid interview session with Ron Artest at the Staples Center in the early afternoon - I perused the media guides to confirm my suspicions: Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher are the only current Lakers who were on that 2001-2002 team that tortured the Kings in the Western Conference finals. Of course, Phil Jackson was head coach, and Jim Cleamons and Frank Hamblen were two of his assistants. And Brian Shaw was a reserve point guard on that '02 squad.

Still. Just wondering. Just thinking. Anyone in Sac pulling for Artest to win a championship? His effort during the second half of 2005-06, after he was acquired for Peja Stojakovic and his passion, peristence and dominating individual defense virtually pushed the Kings into the postseason, should earn him some love from Kings fans, right? I mean, the guy was truly incredible.

One thing that struck me during Wednesday's media bash: Ron Ron's winning putback against the Phoenix Suns in Game 5 of the conference semis was at the same end of the court as Robert Horry's killer three in the '02 conference finals. Horry's incredibly timely jumper off Vlade Divac's tapback seems like yesterday. And among all the NBA playoffs I've covered, it ranks up there with Julius Erving's baseline scoop shot, Bird's theft of Isiah Thomas' inbound pass, Magic's sweeping hook, Dennis Johnson's 19-footer at the Forum, Jordan's straight-on jumpers against Craig Ehlo and Bryon Russell ...

The numbers are intimidating

One of the reasons I continue to applaud the Maloofs for their aggressive pursuit of Jackson after he had been fired by owner Jerry Buss in 2005: Jackson's Bulls and Lakers teams are 47-0 when winning the first game of a playoff series. The Lakers themselves have won 23 consecutive playoffs after prevailing in the opener. You know? If you have elite talent and you are serious aobut winning? You hire elite coaches. Sometimes, it is that simple.

A tough series to call

Given the injuries to the Lakers (Kobe's finger, Andrew Bynum's right knee) and the advanced age of the Celtics' Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, this is a tough series to predict. Therefore, hours before Game 1 tipoff, I will defer to my esteemed colleague Bob Ryan of The Boston Globe - the encyclopedia on all things Celtics. He was a Celtics beat writer in the late 1970s and early 1980s, chronicled their championship runs through 1986 and again in 2008, hung with Havlicek and Cowens and Silas, and wrote books with Bird. His memory for game detail is unparalled. And, about this series, he has no clue. So I'll go with the theory that the team with the best player wins. Guess everyone knows who that is.

About the refs

There is no chance the NBA refs have a worse two weeks than Major League Baseball's umpires have experienced of late. Given ump Jim Joyce's botched call in what should have been Armando Galarraga's perfect game Wednesday, hopefully MLB is motivated to adopt an instant replay system something similar to that in the NBA. Nothing worse than blowing the call. Somewhere out there, Bob Delaney, Ted Bernhardt and Dick Bavetta - those 2002 Game Six Guys - are empathizing.

With the additions of Jim Gray and Bill Walton to the Kings radio and television crew that already includes Gary Gerould, Grant Napear, Jerry Reynolds and Fat Lever, the situation looks a little crowded. Or, maybe not. Pre-game shows. Post-game shows. In-game chats. Who can keep up with this stuff? Gray is being counted on to grab interviews with high profile types inside and outside basketball, so don't expect him to be poking his head into the huddle, tossing T-shirts, hawking season tickets, etc., as do so many NBA sideline reporters these days (I always felt badly for the departed Kayte Christensen, who was very insightful on post-game radio).

Walton's role seems far less defined. Unlike Gray, who has numerous obligations to other networks for golf, college basketball and boxing events, among other things, the Hall of Fame center said he's available for anything and everything, and more than working a handful of Kings games in L.A.- assuming his surgically repaired back holds up. He was forced to retire as ESPN's NBA analyst in 2008 because of a chronic problem, and as detailed in a number of publications these past few weeks, he was in excruciating pain before undergoing an innovative procedure 15 months ago.

When I reached him at his San Diego home earlier Wednesday, he was giddy, thoughtful, humble, emotional. He kept thanking the Maloofs and repeating how grateful he was to be back with a team - he said salary has yet to be discussed - and made it clear that, in his mind, this isn't a short-term deal. At one point, when I asked what it felt like to be returning to basketball after a 2 1/2 year absence, he choked up.

That hoops connection

Walton has known Paul Westphal since their UCLA/USC days, prodded his son Nathan to attend Princeton on Pete Carril's recommendation, and was a teammate of both Geoff Petrie and Spencer Hawes' uncle (Steve) in Portland. So he's not a total stranger. In particular, I can't wait to hear his analysis of young Spence, who loves to shoot and pass, but isn't keen on mixing it up inside.

Of all Walton's NBA-related relationships, however, his friendship with Gray might be the most important. (The two were broadcast partners with CBS and NBC for the better part of 20 years, so yeah, you can guess that Gray encouraged Joe Maloof to make that phone call after reading the LA Times article Sunday). According to Walton, it was Gray who urged him to contact Dr. Steven Garfin, the UC San Diego surgeon who performed the eight-hour procedure in which two titanium rods and four-inch bolts were inserted into his spine.

"Before I had the surgery, Jim was calling me every day, telling me 'don't give up, don't give up,' " said Walton, 57. "I would be down on the floor, not even able to crawl. You talk about a friend ..."

Final thoughts on the big redhead (deadhead, greyhead)

In April, 2009, while I was preparing a series of articles for Vlade Divac's retirement ceremonies at Arco Arena, I left a message for Bill and received a return call within a matter of minutes. He was recovering from the surgery - of which I had no clue - and must have been in a lot of pain, yet was incredibly gracious and generous with his time. When I asked how he was feeling, he changed the subject, and wanted to know what was going on with the Kings. Guess he'll see for himself.

Hall of Fame center Bill Walton is joining the Kings broadcast crew on a limited basis. Walton, who has suffered from debilitating back pain the last several years, is feeling well enough to work approximately 5-10 games for the Kings. According to Kings co-owner Joe Maloof, Walton will be added to the telecasts for the Kings games in Los Angeles, the LeBron James visit to Sacramento - regardless of which team the coveted free agent signs with - and could provide additional commentary from a local station near his home in San Diego. Walton becomes the second high-profile announcer added to the Kings broadcast team within the past few weeks. Previously, Jim Gray was hired to work a 20-game schedule.

"We'll start out slow and see how Bill handles it," Joe Maloof said Wednesday afternoon. "If he feels he can travel and wants to do more, that would be fine. He can offer commentary, join Grant (Napear) and Jerry (Reynolds) on the telecast for a quarter, do some reporting. We thought this was a great opportunity to add a Hall of Famer to our crew and have some fun."

So, the block party was a great idea. The Kings should do this more often. A lot more often. Sacramento City Councilman Steve Cohn, who was among the local politicians, civic leaders and business types who attended the NBA Lottery festivities late Tuesday afternoon in midtown, reminisced about how the local franchise often held functions near the city center when the late Joe Serna was mayor in the 1990s.

"Joe was into all this stuff," said Cohn. "He loved (engaging) the Kings in the city. I'm glad to see it happening again."

People in the streets. People in the pubs. People in the restaurants. The large screen TV angled in the intersection of Capitol and 18th. Very, very cool. The energy was palpable, and even though the Kings only secured the No.5 pick in the upcoming draft, the fans seemed to swallow their disappointment and thoroughly enjoy the experience.

So why now? Why skip a decade? Though Kings types won't say so publicly, several complained that recently departed business president John Thomas was a chronic impediment to these types of events. If a team sponsor wasn't involved, so the story goes, Thomas wasn't interested. Incoming business president Matina Kolokotronis, by contrast, spent the evening chatting just inside Zocalo's, chatting with fans, season ticket holders, team employees and media members. "Isn't this incredible?" asked the McGeorge Law School graduate and longtime Sacramento resident. "We need to bring the team back into the community, and that's what we're doing. This is just the beginning."

Maloof family matriarch Colleen Maloof, who has a wonderful, wry sense of humor, cracked, "It's a little hot, but this is wonderful. How many people do you think are here anyway?"

Wiz celebrate after all that suffering

It would be hard not to be happy for Irene Pollin, the widow of the late Washington Wizards majority owner Abe Pollin. She lost her husband in November, endured the Gilbert Arenas gun/locker room nonsense, is in the process of relinquishing control to the incoming Ted Leonsis ... and then gets lucky and wins the Lottery. Wow. Upon his death, Abe Pollin was the league's longest-tenured owner, and a close friend of NBA Commissioner David Stern. He also was among the most loyal and progressive of executives: Former Wizards president Susan O'Malley was a high-ranking executive decades before Jeanie Buss took over the Lakers business operations. Besides all that, Pollin's loyalty to his former player/coach Wes Unseld is legendary.

A few final thoughts on the Lottery, playoffs, Kings, NBA ...

- Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov became the latest billionaire to be humbled by NBA events. Assuming his league-worst club would win the Lottery, he envisioned drafting John Wall and, with a Brooklyn arena on the horizon, offering the most attractive destination for LeBron James. Well, he'll learn. The Maloofs. Mark Cuban. Remember Howard Schultz in Seattle? How long did he last? Five years? James Dolan. The late Pollin. The late Bill Davidson. Even Jerry Buss has taken his lickings, pretty much getting excoriated for firing Phil Jackson after championship seasons with Shaq and Kobe. No one escapes the wrath of NBA ownership.

- And by the way: Prokhorov better study his NBA history. Before projecting the Nets as the league's first "global" franchise, he needs to be briefed about the Kings teams of Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic, and Hedo Turkoglu, the San Antonio Spurs of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, the Warriors ... the Jazz .... the Rockets. (As a Brooklyn native, love the idea of a spanking new arena in my old neighborhood, though).

- Poor Tyreke Evans. His reaction when Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver revealed that the Kings would be selecting fifth? Priceless. He is the genuine, real deal, that kid.

- It's also not hard to understand why Paul Westphal remains so popular despite the team's disappointing season. He is bright, thoughtful, funny, accommodating to fans and media members alike, and for someone who was such an incredible player, seemingly without ego. He spent the evening mingling with fans, talking with journalists, spinning the results in the most possible manner imaginable. Very classy individual.

- I came home and watched a replay of Celtics-Magic Game 2, and couldn't help but wondering: Do the Magic miss Hedo, or what? Before he left Orlando, stiffed Portland, signed with Toronto and allowed himself to get out of shape (physically and mentally), the popular one-time King was a huge contributor to the Magic's postseason surge a year ago with his playmaking, shotmaking, three-point shooting, and uncanny knack for feeding the post. Think Dwight Howard might agree....

- Orlando's J.J. Redick could help the Kings ...

- Further evidence of the volatile economic times and dramatic turnover within league ownership circles: One of the late Pistons' owner Bill Davidson's longest-tenured and most respected employees, media director Matt Dobek, was let go a few days ago. The team is up for sale, the on-court product has deteriorated, and even franchise icon Joe Dumars is said to be worried about his future.


This time last year, Geoff Petrie was flying back from Spain, where he was scouting Ricky Rubio, when the Kings were skunked in the NBA Draft Lottery. (Or so they thought. More on that later). Though the NBA's worst team had the best percentages at the No.1 overall pick, they finished fourth in the complicated, ping pong ball system that was held in New Jersey. At the local Lottery festivities at Chris Webber's old restaurant in Natomas, the scene was one of abject misery. Co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof forced a few smiles and offered plenty of the usual platitudes, but they were visibly devastated. Joe looked like he wanted to cry.

Petrie learned the results a few hours later when his plane landed and he checked his cell phone - which is what he will be doing again Tuesday night. While the Lottery street party is going on in midtown Sacramento - great idea, by the way - the team's basketball president will be en route to Chicago for the NBA's Rules and Competition Committee that begins Wednesday morning. "I won't know anything again until we land," said Petrie, "and will probably find out by text. But as much as you'd like to believe you know what's going to happen, you don't have any control."

It turns out, last year's Lottery wasn't so bad after all: With the No.4 pick, the Kings drafted Tyreke Evans, the future Rookie of the Year. Hoping their luck holds, Tyreke will represent the team at Tuesday's proceedings back East.


Friends in NBA places

Jerome Randle, the Cal standout who was named Pac-10 Player of the Year, really wants to play for the Kings. And from what I'm hearing, the diminutive point guard, who worked out with several other prospects Thursday morning, helped himself with his performance. (It doesn't hurt that longtime scout Scotty Stirling lives in the Bay Area and frequently attends Cal games). The book on Randle reads like this: He has excellent quickness, shoots with range, and has progressed as a playmaker. Plus, he's smart. He receives his degree in African-American studies on May 22. In the draft, he is projected anywhere from being a late first-round pick to not being selected at all. But keep in mind that the Kings have a second-round selection - No.33 until the draft order is established on Tuesday - and a tempo-changing backup point guard ranks somewhere among their priorities. (With their first-round pick, they can select no lower than No.6).

Anyway, Randle says he speaks frequently with his former teammate and ex-Oak Ridge star Ryan Anderson, now a rotation player in Orlando. "Ryan tells me that I can play on the NBA level," related Randle, who says he stands just over 5-foot-9 in sneakers. "He says Jameer (Nelson) and I play a lot alike." It's probably worth mentioning that another speedy, undersized, former Pac 10 star - Aaron Brooks - is enjoying a nice career down in Houston.


So, about LeBron .....

The Cavs' fourth-quarter meltdown against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals was a stunner. It's one thing to lose, but this was an undressing. Actually, the collapse began in earnest when the Cavs inbounded the ball with 5.5 seconds remaining in the third quarter, trailing by nine, and acted as if they were ahead by nine, failing to capitalize on a scoring opportunity and the chance to enter the final period with some momentum. Way, way, way too casual. Then, in the fourth quarter, the sloppy passes, the unforced turnovers, the missed chippies, the lackluster attempts at loose balls .... it was ridiculous, embarrassing, a bruising experience for an MVP.

So I'm thinking two things: One, LeBron James put up excellent numbers except for his nine turnovers, but as is often the case, the stats were deceiving. He gave up the ball when he should have attacked, or gave up the ball and just stood around. His sore right elbow has to be worse than he has been willing to reveal. Most troubling, though, he seemed as perplexed by the Celtics' defense - or the Cavs nonexistent offense - as his teammates. Two, when he meets with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and GM Danny Ferry to discuss his future, LeBron should ask for specifics regarding the organization's plans to improve his supporting cast, which clearly is not championship caliber. If he likes what he hears, then he should ask about the head coaching situation. Mike Brown can't be sticking around, right? Not that Jeff Van Gundy's teams ever dazzled offensively, but the ESPN analyst is a superb, experienced coach, and if the Cavs approached and asked him to coach the two-time MVP, he could hardly turn that down. Or what about Larry Brown? Might the presence of LeBron entice his family's move to Cleveland? Philly ain't that much nicer, folks.

Let the circus begin, then. Cleveland. Chicago. New York. Brooklyn. Miami .... and who knows what other teams might surprise with an offer? This is going to be a crazy, crazy offseason, for sure.


Five games into this Cavs-Celtics conference semifinals, with Boston winning the crucial Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead, and a few things are pretty apparent: The right elbow of LeBron James is a lot more painful than he is publicly admitting; there isn't another player in the Cavs starting lineup who is coveted by other clubs; and when an old, bloated Shaquille O'Neal leads your team with 21 points (sorry Shaq, still love ya), your team is in big, big trouble.

Having been in the building when injuries crippled players the caliber of Magic Johnson (hamstring) and Kevin McHale (foot) in the NBA Finals, and repeatedly having seen superstars play while in tremendous pain, I will be really surprised if LeBron's injury isn't much more serious than he's letting on. He's too much of a competitor to go out so meekly. And assuming the Celts capitalize on the homecourt advantage and close out the series in the next game, can anyone really envision LeBron skipping out on his hometown after this performance?

Ok, here's one crazy thought. Don't make another mistake by the lake. Forget about New York and Miami and Chicago. Fame is fame, even in Cleveland. Could Stockton and Malone been any bigger elsewhere? Don't think so.

The Cavs should resign LeBron and hire the best available coach - (1) Larry Brown or (2) Jeff Van Gundy - and retool the roster. They need a talent upgrade, and most importantly, need a quality point guard. If nothing else - and with the exception of the Lakers and the Miami Heat - championship teams throughout the last decade have affirmed the importance of point guard play, with a Tony Parker, Chauncey Billups, Rajon Rondo, etc., crucial to facilitate an offense. It surprises me that the Cavs haven't followed Phil Jackson's example (complementing scoring superstars Jordan and Bryant) and implemented a triangle offense, plugging in catch-and-shooters like John Paxson, Steve Kerr and Derek Fisher. Excluding LeBron, the Cavs are just painful to watch.

This series also serves as yet another testament to the brilliance of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Michael Jordan is incomparable, the greatest player ever. Kobe and LeBron are magnificent. Yet none of them choreographed a game, so skillfully and seamlessly manipulated teammates like so many puppets on a string, like their 6-foot-10, below-the-rim predecessors. With Bird and Magic, you never had to ask - are they involving their teammates? Should they be passing instead of shooting? Should they be passing instead of dribbling? These guys flirted nightly with triple-doubles - with triple-doubles! - yet epitomized unselfishness. So, really, other than the fact that Jordan, Kobe and LeBron are superior defenders, that players are more athletic, that the influx of international players has enhanced the talent level, how exactly has the NBA game improved? Go back and look at NBA Classics. Watch the Celtics and Lakers of the 80's. The tempo. The defense played with the feet, with positioning, with arms extended (instead of hands groping at hips and waists). The boxing out for rebounds. The passing. Oh, the passing. (The isolation game and one-on-one nonsense became an NBA staple thereafter). Check it out. Then, let's talk.


Mike Bibby turns 32 on Thursday, but he probably won't be in the mood to celebrate. The former Kings point guard, who was the team's clutch player during the great run earlier this decade, was little more than a bit player for the Atlanta Hawks while they were being swept by the Orlando Magic in the conference semifinals. He started all four games, but averaged only 4.0 points and 2.0 assists in 16.7 minutes, which doesn't speak well of his future. (He remains under contract for two years and $11.7 million).

His struggles don't come as a complete surprise, though. He's only 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, and as Kings fans can attest, never shrinks from physical contact. And historically, because of the nightly beatings that small guards absorb, especially those who routinely attack the basket, their careers tend be shortened or prematurely diminished because of injuries (Mark Price, Kevin Johnson) or the peristent pounding. The exceptions tend to be players who are conditioning fanatics - or possible freaks of nature - like John Stockton and Steve Nash. (Stockton, the league's all time leader in assists and steals, averaged a ridiculous 7.7 assists (in 27.7 minutes) in his final season - when he was 41 years old. Nash, who is 35, is enjoying a terrific postseason and appears eminently capable of leading the Suns for the next few seasons).

But it's been a while since we've seen Bibby's wicked crossover, his crafty stutter-step baseline drives, or even those familiar three's in transition that crush an opponent's morale. His days as a starter might be over ....


Historically, Geoff Petrie has an excellent draft record. But he must wince while following what Rajon Rondo is doing in the playoffs. The 6-foot-1, 171 pound Celtics point guard is averaging 17.9 points, 7 rebounds and 11.4 assists - numbers bolstered by his remarkable triple-double (29 points, 18 rebounds, 13 assists) Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Of recent postseasons, Rondo's performance most reminded of Tim Duncan's near quadruple double in the Spurs' championship clinching victory over the New Jersey Nets in 2003.

While a lot less was made of Duncan's numbers - he is so subtle, even his spectacular efforts seem understated - his effort that night rivaled any individual postseason performance I can remember, dating back to the Bird-Magic era of the 80s. In the Game 6 finale in San Antonio, a much younger Duncan destroyed the undersized Nets with 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and eight blocks.

Ah, youth.

So back to Rondo. While the Kings that year selected Quincy Douby at No.19, leaving Rondo to be plucked at No. 21, Petrie wasn't the only league executive who whiffed. Here are just a few other prospects drafted before the Kentucky sophomore was drafted by the Suns and immediately traded to Boston: Adam Morrison, Tyrus Thomas, Shelden Williams, Patrick O'Bryant, Saer Sene, Hilton Armstrong, Cedric Simmons, Rodney Carney, Shawne Williams, Oleksiy Pecherov ... well, you get the idea.

(In the Rondo-to-Boston trade, the Suns received Brian Grant and cash considerations for the Cavaliers' first-round pick in 2007, plus cash considerations. They used the 2007 pick (No.24 overall) on Rudy Fernandez, then swapped the Spanish guard to the Trail Blazers for cash considerations.



By now, it's no secret that Tyreke Evans began preparing for an NBA career about the time his older brothers took away his training wheels. So it should come as no surprise that the Kings rookie - who is all of 20 years old - worked hard on his appearance and his delivery prior to his Rookie of the Year press conference. Evans, who is almost painfully shy, walked to the podium clutching a sheet of paper in his left hand. His notes included a reminder to speak slowly and clearly, and listed the people he wanted to thank. Though clearly nervous, with his right foot moving back and forth, he must have been pleased with the way he handled the situation. Later, Tyreke's trainer, Lamont Peterson, revealed that the Kings point guard bought a new shirt at Nordstroms after learning he had won the award, only to switch at the last minute to a light purple dress shirt and tie combination. Just a personal opinion here, but I give the threads the thumbs up.


All in a day's work

Speaking of sartorial splendor: Patrick Mulvaney, the owner and head chef of Mulvaney's B & L, the hip restaurant that is located a few blocks from The Bee, was among the local business leaders and season ticket holders who crowded into the press room for Thursday's festivities. You couldn't miss him, actually. He must have just slipped out of the kitchen for a few minutes, because he was still wearing his cooking garb - pants, white shirt and vest. Several Kings offiicals are known to frequent his downtown establishment.

Playoff hits and misses

A few quick thoughts on the elimination earlier this evening of the Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trail Blazers:
- Nate McMillan deserves tremendous credit for leading his injury-riddled Blazers into the playoffs, and how can you not appreciate his post-game comments to his team? With TNT granted access to the locker room, McMillan thanked and praised his players for their effort, but reminded them that, in the end, they still lost. Always said that guy was tough ...
- It will be interesting to see whether Brandon Roy experiences any knee problems after returning to action so soon after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to shave some of the cartilage. I suspect McMillan also will second guess himself for starting and playing his star extended minutes, especially with Rudy Fernandez finally contributing.
- I agree with TNT analyst Charles Barkley about the significance of the Mavericks' defeat. It wasn't awful, say, like losing to those Golden State Warriors. Though the No.2-seeded Mavs lost to the No.7 Spurs, a case can be made that San Antonio is a better team that simply got healthy at the right time. The chemistry with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili is amazing, and when George Hill steps up like he did Thursday night? What happened to Bruce Bowen, anyway?
- Steve Nash committing six of his seven turnovers in the first half. A disappointed Dirk Nowitzki uttering the unthinkable - that he might opt for free agency and sign elsewhere. Amare Stoudemire throwing a perfect pass to a cutting Jason Richardson with six minutes remaining. Grant Hill, 37 years young, swooping in for a spectacular lefty block on Jerryd Bayless. Strange, strange night, indeed. Couldn't be happier for the classy Hill, though, who reaches the second round for the first time in his injury-hampered career.


For those who might have been wondering whether former Sac State coach/Monarchs assistant/Kings scout Tom Abatemarco was still looking for work, we can report that the man known as Coach T has been retained by recently hired University of Colorado coach Tad Boyle. Abatemarco had left the Kings several weeks ago to join Jeff Bzdelik's staff in Boulder, only to be ditched at the altar, so to speak, when Bzdelik bolted for Wake Forest job and didn't offer to bring Coach T along. The much-traveled Abatemarco learned two days ago that he was being retained by Boyle, the former head coach at Northern Colorado.


While monitoring Larry Brown's reported interest (and, yes, of course it's true) in leaving his coaching gig with the Charlotte Bobcats to run the Philadelphia 76ers, I was reminded why Geoff Petrie refused to interview the Hall of Famer for the Kings vacancy three years ago. Petrie, who is a very conservative, conventional in all manners of life, was put off by Brown's frequent travels, his tendency to meddle in personnel matters, and his undeniable charisma. Let's face it. When Larry is anywhere in your zip code, he commands your attention. The latest developments out of Charlotte suggest the 69-year-old coach is nothing if not consistent. In his In two years with the Bobcats, he has (a) overseen a dramatic improvement in the defense, (b) pushed for significant trades (obtaining Boris Diaw, Stephen Jackson, Tyson Chandler, etc.), (c) guided yet another team into the playoffs and (d) reportedly missed his wife and two young kids so much that he wants to return to Philadelphia as the 76ers boss.

This is sooooo Larry. Teams that hire him already know the statistics: In 25 years as an NBA head coach, he has averaged less than three years with nine teams. His previous six-year tenure with the organization was the longest of his NBA career, followed by his four seasons with the Indiana Pacers.

But about his coaching? This is why the Kings should have hired Brown when they had their chance: He has guided teams to records of .500 or better in 20 of his 25 seasons, won the title with the 2004 Detroit Pistons, reached the NBA Finals three times, and in his two season with the Clippers, threatened to legitimize a joke of a franchise. (Two years, two postseasons).

In other words, for all of his well-documented idiosyncracies and the serial drama, I'll take two or three years of Brown's brilliant teaching and coaching over the concept of hiring young, unproven coaches who, as the Kings can attest from experience, don't last anyway. Consider the recent lineup: Eric Musselman, Reggie Theus, Kenny Natt. Who'd ya rather? No slam against the young guys, but come on. Think of it as an intense, three-year fling. Brown is the best teacher and game strategist in the league. There also is something to be said for the fact that under Larry, players either develop or he badgers management into getting rid of them -- not necessarily a bad thing. It would have been fascinating to watch his handling of Spencer Hawes, Jason Thompson, Donte Greene, Omri Casspi and Tyreke Evans, of whom he is a huge, huge fan. (That Philly connection, folks). Brown is notoriously is brutal on point guards, but Chauncey Billups emerged as a star under his demanding tutelage ....


Tyreke awaits word

While Tyreke Evans waited to accompany Urijah Faber into Arco Arena's for Saturday's WEC featherweight championship bout against Jose Aldo, quietly sitting off to the side on a stool, he insisted he wasn't nervously awaiting the Rookie of the Year results. "Nah, I don't care about that," he said. "I just want to win." But somewhat revealing - and I think this speaks to the fact that he remains a humble guy, still somewhat awed by his celebrity - when I introduced him to our deputy sports editor, he asked when the body-length poster he posed for was being distributed by The Bee. He seemed genuinely excited to hear that the poster was available the following day.


The knee issues

After watching cartilage damage shorten or ruin the careers of numerous NBA stars through the years, among them former Kings Chris Webber and the late Derek Smith, it was interesting to hear TNT's Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley question the wisdom of Brandon Roy's return one week after having his meniscus shaved. While recognizing that surgical techniques continue to improve, I agree with Kenny and Charles on taking a more conservative approach. Roy has a history of knee issues. He's young. His team is already crippled. The Blazers aren't gonig anywhere this season, except maybe, into the second round. So why even risk further injury to your best player?

I have been pounding the phones all night, but can't pin down the voting on the Rookie of the Year award. Tyreke Evans remains the favorite - based on unofficial polling - but league types are amazingly tight-lipped. (David Stern should ease up a little bit, folks). Even the Maloofs are on edge. And we know this because they answered their phones on the first ring. The two-man race between Evans and Golden State's Stephen Curry could come down later this morning, or more likely, early next week. We do know that Tyreke is in town, and according to WEC types, still expected to accompany Urijah Faber into Arco Arena for Saturday's featherweight title fight against Jose Aldo.

Congrats to Scotty Brooks

On the night Manteca's own Scotty Brooks was named Coach of the Year, Kevin Durant shuts down Kobe Bryant in the OKC Thunder's first NBA playoff win. I'm happy for Scotty, a former Kings assistant and NBA journeyman point guard who is one of the league's great guys. (I am assuming business will be booming at his family's car wash - the aptly named "Dribbles" in Manteca - this weekend! His mother, Lee, still runs the place, and Scott is known to drop in and sweep the stalls whenever he's in Northern California.) But it was really, really tough watching owner Clay Bennett celebrate. It's impossible to root for the guy who moved the Sonics from Seattle to Oklahoma City.

Things to be learned from OKC's victory

The Kings' goal to add length to their frontline has to be reinforced by Oklahoma City's Game 3 victory over the Lakers. Actually, it should be reinforced by everything we've seen during the playoffs. In other words, they should focus on developing 7-footer Spencer Hawes, 21, instead of shattering his confidence and benching him for relatively mild comments in The Bee. They need him to facilitate an offense that places an inordinate amount of pressure on the defense. (This from someone who believes defense wins titles.) But until something changes, and the Kings start moving the ball and scoring in transition and early offense, the defeats will continue to accumulate, and their entertainment value will be further diminished. Gotta score in transition and early offense, especially when your lineup doesn't feature LeBron James or Kobe Bryant.

Reminders of the old days

During the Lakers-Thunder telecast, TNT sideline reporter Craig Sager compared the noise level in Oklahoma City's Ford Center to the old Kings-Lakers days at Arco Arena, but it was Bryant's reference to the old days that really hit home. In his postgame interview, he compared the noise level at the Ford Center to the "old barn" in Sac.

-- Ailene Voisin

A year ago, the Kings had the worst record and wound up with the No.4 pick instead of the top prize in the NBA Draft Lottery. Alas, their initial bad luck turned into good fortune, in the presence of Tyreke Evans, this season's Rookie of the Year unless Stephen Curry's late surge spoils his bid. Now, because Golden State, Washington and Detroit finished the season Wednesday night with victories, the Kings own the third-worst record -- and the best chances for the No.3 pick in the upcoming draft. Or then again, maybe they get really lucky and move up to one or two and a shot at John Wall and Evan Turner.

Entering the Lottery, here are the odds (for the No.1 pick) for the teams with the worst records. Or, as the ping pong balls bounce ....
- New Jersey. 25 percent.
- Minnesota. 19.9 percent.
- Sacramento. 15.6 percent.

The Warriors and Wizards will flip a coin to determine who gets the most ping pong bolls in the Lottery, which is scheduled for May 18. Anyway, most of the Kings officials, who were in New York for the Board of Governors meeting, were a pretty bunch. The Kings will select no lower then sixth in the upcoming draft.

That Rookie of the Year Race

I'm sticking with my endorsement of Evans for Rookie of the Year, but Curry is making it tough. I thought Warriors executives who earlier this season made comparisons between their point guard and Nash were crazy, but I have become a true believer. This kid is a magician, a special, special player. Watching him against the Blazers last night, with his driving, rebounding, passing, instincts, ability to probe defenses and find teammates, etc., and finish with 42 points, nine boards and eight assists, well, the superlatives are all deserved. Love the way he grabs the rebound and takes off, always looking for the open man. The Evans-Curry duel should be fun to watch for the next decade.

A bad break

Former Sac State/Monarchs/Kings coach and scout Tom Abatemarco recently joined Jeff Bzedelik's staff at Colorado, only to learn earlier this week that his new boss was taking the head coaching job at Wake Forest. And, that he couldn't add Coach T. to his staff. Lousy timing, to say the least.


Jerry Reynolds is usually the one giving out the awards. An original employee of the Sacramento Kings organization, he is the club's utility man. He has done everything from coach the team to run the Monarchs, and more often than anyone else, has represented the franchise at civic and charity functions. And as everyone who knows Jerry will attest, he is one of the wittiest people around, a walking, talking soundbite. (He has long been a favorite of NBA writers, never failing to provide a fitting quip).

But last night it was his turn to be the center of attention. Reynolds, who suffers from diabetes, was honored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at the Sheraton Hotel. And here's the best part: Officials with the Foundation surprised Reynolds by flying in his brother, Randy, from their native French Lick, Ind., to present the award. (Randy has had diabetes since age nine). According to Kings radio analyst Fat Lever, Jerry was overwhelmed, and of course, delighted. Before last night's game against the Dallas Mavericks, the Reynolds brothers mingled in the press room, where Randy Reynolds dropped another surprise: Until he flew into Sacramento on Thursday, he had never been on a plane.

"No, never," he said, when asked to repeat himself. And then he laughed. If you closed your eyes, you would swear you were listening to Jerry.

Anyway, congrats to JR. There isn't a more gracious or generous person in the league. After all these years - he came from Kansas City with the Kings in 1985 - he's a keeper.


Cuban weighs in on Nellie

I caught up with Mavs owner Mark Cuban after the game while he was rebounding shots hoisted by a long line of youngsters. That's another reason he's one of my favorites. Another is the fact that he always tells you what he really thinks. Cuban doesn't have a censor, which is sort of funny, since his famously estranged head coach Don Nelson doesn't, either. So, of course, I had to ask Mark for his thoughts on Nelson's recent feat, surpassing Lenny Wilkens' record for career coaching victories with No. 1,333, and whether the twice-snubbed Nellie belongs in the Hall of Fame. Can't really say I was surprised by his answers, only by the enthusiasm of his response.

"Oh, yeah," Cuban said. "Nellie changed the game. Point forward, matchups, small ball, there were so many different elements that he doesn't really get credit for. So, he and I had our disagreements, but more on the general management side than the coaching side. But I think as a coach, there's no question he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Hey, look, when he was with us, no one wanted to coach against him. That's really the true test. If you ask coaches, 'do you want to play against Nellie's teams?' and no one ever did."

A few final thoughts on Lenny Wilkens

I admit to feeling a few pangs the other night when Nelson eclipsed Wilkens' record, mainly because I think the world of Lenny. I was the NBA writer in Atlanta when he moved past the late Red Auerbach for the most coaching victories in 1995, and spent hours with both men as the date neared. I even endured an afternoon inhaling Red's cigar smoke in his office in Washington, D.C. - cough, cough - and have to say, it was a fascinating interview session. Red was an NBA encyclopedia, and a great storyteller. Any time you wanted to talk hoops, all you had to do was catch up with him at the Boston Garden or call his house in D.C. He was listed in the phone book, believe it or not, and not only took the calls, but would spend hours chatting about anything and everything. He was quite the character, and he was a big fan of Wilkens - whom he repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried to trade for. And, of course, he coached Nelson on five championship teams.

One thing that always bothered me: The night Wilkens claimed the record, the Hawks' previous marketing regime did almost nothing to sell out the old Omni. There were fewer than 13,000 fans in attendance when Lenny lit a cigar, in honor of Auerbach. I don't care if the Hawks had to give away tickets and transport school kids to the game. That place should have been packed.

As a final aside: Since I started covering the NBA in 1981, these are the three coaches I would want drawing up the plays for a final, game-winning or tying possession: Larry Brown, Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson.

The tragedy in the coal mine in Montcoal, W.Va., on Monday sent me scrambling for my Atlas earlier this evening. I wanted to figure out how close the explosion was to Belle, Chelyan and Cabin Creek, the small, postage-stamp towns I visited while profiling Jason Williams and his background in January 2000.

That trip remains one of the most interesting and memorable assignments of my career. As I learned years earlier when I relocated from Los Angeles to Atlanta, stererotyping makes fools of us all.

Anyway, back to the Atlas: Williams' hometown - Belle - a compact riverside neighborhood of several blocks and a tiny downtown - is about two to three miles from Jerry West's boyhood homes in Chelyan and Cabin Creek. It is just over the Chelyan Bridge, which spans the Kanawha River. If you can stand the overwhelming stench of chemicals and burning trash, the winding, narrow river valley is stunningly beautiful.

Since the area is about 15 miles south of Charleston, and only another 15 or so miles - according to the map - from the site of the accident, I was left wondering whether any of the the wonderful people I met during my visit lost loved ones. Miners form a close-knit community, as I was told repeatedly. Monday's accident reminded me of Jason's caring teachers and coaches, along with Jerry West's former neighbors who mesmerized me with their stories. I mean, come on. This is The Logo!

An auto dealer in Chelyan drove me around and showed me where West's mother lived at the time, along with his former home, his old school and, more importantly, where he used to shoot hoops as a boy at a riverfront basket. The salesman said he would be driving to work and see the Lakers great dribbling his ball along the road well before dawn, headed for the makeshift court.

For anyone who might be interested in the subject, Roland Lazenby's recently released biography of West offers wonderful insights, and the opening chapters offer some history on mining within the region. Jerry's father was an impassioned Democrat and union leader - as I was reminded of frequently during my visit. Anyway, the book, titled "Jerry West, The Life and Legend of a Basketball Legend," is a terrific read. Jerry has his own autobiography coming out shortly, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading that. I covered his Lakers teams in the 1980s and found him to be a complex, fascinating figure. And by the way: Because of his friendship and loyalty to former teammate Elgin Baylor, there is absolutely, absolutely, no chance he would even consider the Clippers general manager vacancy.

One other aside on the mining tragedy: Former NBA referee and current WNBA officiating boss Dee Kantner was an engineer in a former life. While involved with the sale of mining equipment, she often visited mines throughout West Virginia and, in our many conversations, revealed her trepidation and terrible claustrophobia when forced to travel miles beneath ground in poorly lighted and ventilated tunnels, I guess there's no mystery why she was never intimidated by combative coaches and 7-foot basketball players.


While watching Duke outlast Butler last night in one of the classic NCAA Championships, I was delighted for Blue Devils guard Nolan Smith, whose late father, Derek, played for the the Kings (1986-89) - albeit, after a devastating knee injury had basically destroyed his career. Kings fans never saw the best of Derek. Or knew the real Derek.

I was covering the (San Diego) Clippers in 1983 when then-coach Jimmy Lynam offered a tryout to a muscular, explosive 6-foot-6 forward who had been drafted out of Louisville a year earlier and then cut by the Golden State Warriors. I sat in the gym at the University of San Diego with Clips personnel director Pete Babcock while Lynam ran Smth through a bunch of drills. Lynam was so impressed that he convinced the club to sign Smith - a great move, as it turned out. Though Derek struggled during preseason, he soon emerged as a consistent, often spectacular scorer. He was that rare combination of wing player who could hit the mid-range jump shot and attack the rim with a variety of agile, athletic moves. Yet while his role became increasingly prominent - he was a future All-Star, no doubt about it - he remained in awe of his good fortune and immensely grateful to Lynam for giving him the opportunity. Derek and his wife, Monica, often would meet the writers and coaches at our favorite post-game restaurant hangout in Pacific Beach, and dominate a room. A native of tiny Hogansville, Ga., he was smart, funny, humble, intense and emotional. Great, great guy.

The night he tumbled out of bounds - and right into the lap of owner Donald Sterling - he seemed to sense his career was doomed. Though he underwent surgery to remove about 60 percent of the lateral cartilage in his left knee, he was never the same. The Clips bilked the Kings into acquiring him for the popular Mike Woodson and Larry Drew, and sadly, Derek was burdened by failed expectations throughout his three years in Sac. Every time we bumped into each other subsequently on the NBA circuit, he expressed concern about his career and future.

Lynam never forgot him, though. He acquired Smith when he joined the Philadelphia 76ers, and in 1994, when he was head coach of the Washington Wizards (then Bullets), hired his former star as an assistant. The plan was to groom Smith as his eventual successor. Then, of course, in a weird, tragic twist, Chris Webber pulled out of an organization-sponsored cruise at the last minute in 1996, Smith agreed to take his place, and died of cardiac arrest after applying an anti-motion sickness device behind his ear. Monica, Nolan and daughter, Sydney, were all nearby. He was 34.

Watching Nolan earlier tonight, with his wide, prominent features, so similar to those of his late father, I couldn't help but smile.



Joe Maloof was in New York on a business trip when I reached him late Tuesday afternoon to ask about parting ways with team president John Thomas, and while he refused to say anything negative about his former executive, he sounded surprisingly upbeat about the changes. Thomas' eventual exit was a foregone conclusion, though until recently, the plan was to let him finish out his contract next year and then let him go elsewhere.

Things started to change last spring when Joe and Gavin Maloof became closely involved with the daily operations and were stunned by the lack of an innovative business/marketing model. And don't underestimate Colleen Maloof's influence. The frustrated/angry/troubled look on her face during games in near-empty Arco Arena last spring was priceless. These past few years, she would often vent to me in the corridors during halftimes, and in what might come as a shock to Kings fans, complained that tickets were too high for an average family to afford. Especially given the product. When the Maloofs re-evaluated their marketing practices and decided to become much more involved, their longtime friend and consultant Kevin Kaplan was enlisted to help.

The mood swing has been nothing short of amazing. The brothers are back in town, engaged, and enthusiastic. The marketing schemes are interesting - and some of them, very effective. Remember cheap beer night? Even the arena discussions are civil and seem to be progressing nicely. Imagine if the Maloofs had moved more quickly and extracted the much-disliked Thomas much sooner? Or done their due diligence - say, contacting a few Houston Rockets employees or officials? - and not hired him at all?

"We've taken a very active role again," said Joe Maloof. "Last year I had a problem with my knees and all. (Laugh) I guess that was my excuse. But I feel great, and everything is back to normal. Now that we sold the beer operation (in New Mexico), I've got a lot more time to spend with the Kings on the business side. It feels good to be back."

Falling On The Sword

The oldest Maloof sibling, who plans to meet with The Bee in the next two weeks for a state-of-franchise conversation, also dropped this humble little nugget: "We have to figure out ways to keep people engaged, to get them back into the arena. It's not going to come back over night. And it's nobody's fault but our own. We have great fans. They will come back, but we have to show them something. They'll come back when the product is worth watching, and it's happening. Spencer (Hawes), Tyreke (Evans). Omri (Casspi). Donte Greene. Look at Beno (Udrih). But we're really young, and we realize we have a long way to go."

A Few Other Post-Thomas Asides

* Matina Kolokotronis, who was named president of basketball operations, is a Chicago native and graduate of McGeorge Law School. She was hired as an outside legal counsel by former Kings owner Jim Thomas 14 years ago, but subsequently became a trusted advisor to the Maloofs. She has long had Colleen Maloofs' ear ...
* Kaplan, who hastily pulled together the opening night campaign that sold out Arco Arena, owns a private consulting firm that, among other things, and works with professional coaches and their charitable foundations. His dealings with the Maloofs date back to their ownership of the Birmingham franchise in the World Football League.
* During our conversation, Joe Maloof several times reminded me that the changes involve only the business side of the organization. "The basketball stuff is Geoff's (Petrie's) game," he said. "That's not changing."
* Small steps. The Kings co-owner said the club sold two suites last week and said he is encouraged with early returns on season ticket sales for for next season.
* One of the more successful tickets promotions is "birthday night."
* Appreciated Mayor Kevin Johnson taking time from his duties at the City Council meeting to comment on the day's (Kings) events.

The Man Left Standing

Though it was reported extensively during Thomas' early years with the club, his tense relationship with Petrie improved slightly. By the end, the two had reached an uneasy truce. Arguably, one of the best things to come out of Thomas' leave will be a warming of relations between the basketball and business sides. We're not talking Cold War, but maybe, a Silent War. It doesn't hurt that Kolokotronis is close with Petrie and Jason Levien, who works in basketball ops but has expanded duties as general counsel and senior vice-president. He is projected as the point man on all future contract matters.



John Thomas' long and stormy tenure with the Kings has ended. Co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof bought out the final year of Thomas' contract today and announced a restructuring of the franchise's business operations.

In the two most significant moves, Kings legal consultant Matina Kolokotronis was named president of business operations and assistant general manager Jason Levien assumes additional duties as the club's general counsel and senior vice-president. Additionally, John Rinehart is promoted to senior vice-president of the business department, while outside consultant Kevin Kaplan is expected to become even more closely involved with ticket sales and marketing.

The changes also will reflect the Maloofs' renewed involvement this season in all aspects of the team's business operations and, according to Joe Maloof, reflects their intention to become increasingly engaged in the future.

"We've taken a very active role again," Maloof said from New York, where he is attending business meetings. "The basketball side is (Geoff) Petrie's deal. Nothing changes in that regard. This all revolves around business and doing what we can to bring our fans back. The people we're talking about have strong Sacramento ties, and have lived there for years, for the most part."

Asked specifically about Thomas' departure, Maloof explained, "Sometimes an organization can get flat. You need somebody (Kaplan) to come in from the outside and shake things up a bit. John did a lot of very good things for our organization, one of the most important being the 10-year (television) contract he got us six years ago with Comcast (SportsNet) We thought it was time."

Sources close to the situation say that Thomas could have remained with the organization, but opted for a buyout rather than a demotion. And his departure doesn't come as a complete surprise. Thomas, who was previously president of the Houston Rockets, was hired by the Maloofs when they purchased majority ownership of the Kings in 1999. He has been a polarizing figure since the then. He purged the business department immediately, and alienated community and business leaders - as well as season ticket holders - with his strong-arm tactics.

His ultimate demise, however, is directly linked to his lack of creativity regarding ticket plans and promotional packages during the team's ongoing rebuilding process. In contrast to other NBA teams who reduced prices and offer more flexible packages when teams struggles, Thomas resisted, arguing that to do so damaged the "brand." Additionally, he was reluctant to market the game's marquee players during their visits to Arco Arena - another NBA marketing staple. When the Maloofs began re-evaluating the business side last spring and during the offseason, they became increasingly concerned about the lack of innovation and turned to Kaplan for advice as the season approached.

Tom Abatemarco, otherwise known around town as "Coach T," is leaving the Kings organization and joining Jeff Bzdelik's coaching staff at Colorado. Except for a two-year hiatus as Rick Majerus' lead assistant at the University of Utah, Abatemarco has been a basketball fixture around Sac for the past 12 years. A former men's coach at Sacramento, he also was a radio analyst during Kings pregame and postgame shows, an assistant on John Whisenant's Monarchs team that won the WNBA title in 2005, and when the franchise folded in December, joined the Kings basketball operations as a scout. (This, despite his friendship with Whisenant, who remains on cool terms with Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie. You can be sure that Kings co-owner Joe Maloof had something to do with that). Anyway, best of luck to Coach T, a quirky personality with a terrific basketball mind and extensive contacts in college basketball. I am still mystified as to why the Kings' front office types failed to take advantage of Coach T's sourcing and strong college background, but then again, I'm not so surprised. Though the Kings' business side has been a revolving door for years, Petrie runs a closed, tightly-knit basketball shop. He relies on a handful of trusted advisers, including his son, Mike, all of whom have been with him for more than a decade.


Ron Artest played against the Kings for the first time as a member of the Lakers earlier toinight, which means he got his first up close and personal look at rookie Tyreke Evans. He missed the previous two games with a concussion. And, yes, he was impressed. Though Evans struggled from the field until tossing in a few late layups - he was 5-of-16 through three quarters - he missed another triple-double by a single assist. He also did a great job pushing the ball in the opening half, and afterward said he regretted not dictating a crisper pace in the final two periods. But here's Artest on the rookie, whom he defended more effectively than did Kobe Bryant: "He played great. Good player, good player. He attacks, he can attack. He has his time to go get 50 or 40 points. He's a rookie. I was really impressed with his poise. He's got to be more of a leader though. He has the potential now -- he doesn't talk enough to his teammates. A guy with that much poise should have more leadership. That much poise, at that age .... He's 20? With that much poise, a smart player, he needs to take a bigger role, a man's role, that man's leadership role, and direct his teammates. And make his teammates better. Then take over when it's necessary."

Asked a few minutes later about being guarded by Artest, who was told by Phil Jackson before the game that the Lakers needed his defense - not his offense - to win the game, Evans smiled and nodded. "He's got the quickest hands I've ever played against. He moves so well straight up, you got to try to beat him lateral, beat him off the dribble. I tried to do that on the pick and rolls, try to get by him."

One final note about Artest: He says his daughter, Diamond, who continues receiving treatments for kidney cancer, is doing well. That's great to hear. For all the criticism Artest has taken, anyone who has spent time around him knows him as a doting, loving, involved father.


Can't teach size

Spencer Hawes' long term importance to the franchise is obvious, but this was reinforced by the Lakers superior size, length and interior presence. Hawes, a 7-footer who is only 21, will physically mature during the next three-four years. Hey, it happens. It happens late. Historically, it takes longer for big men to physically mature and develop. But clearly, the Kings' need additional help on the frontline. Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum dominated the interior, half the time catching the ball ridiculously close to the basket, or just reaching up and over the undersized Carl Landry for layups and dunks. At least Hawes challenged Bynum's attempts and blocked five shots. Unfortunately, he only grabbed three boards, and received absolutely no weakside help unless Evans darted inside and claimed rebounds. Landry and Donte Greene have to do a better job on the boards. Greene, with his size and athleticism, absolutely, should be more of a factor.This also was a game when Omri Casspi and Jason Thompson probably deserved more minutes, with Thompson collecting 10 boards and Casspi stealing two balls, running the floor, and looking more like the spry, promising rookie of November, December and January instead of the mentally and physically rookie since the All-Star break.

Hawes showed something else: Even while getting torched on at the other end, he responded with a flurry of jumpers, drawing Bynum away from the basket and creating spacing for his teammates. He didn't wilt, and frankly, should be pretty ticked off at his teammates for a lack of help underneath. None of this, by the way, detracts from the fact that Hawes would be advised to spend the offseason getting stronger and learning to become more physical down low. He is a 7-footer. A skilled, talented, 7-footer. Milwaukee's emerging center Andrew Bogut should be his role model ....


Lakers-Kings still has that draw

The final meeting between the teams this season at Arco brought the entire Maloof family to town, including Adrienne, who was accompanied by several female neighbors who were being filmed during the game for an upcoming episode of "Beverly Hills Housewives." I've never seen the show - which airs on Bravo - but my friends love it ....

Mayor Kevin Johnson also made an appearance after halftime, and having just left the City Council meeting, seemed upbeat and energized. He slipped into the tunnel area with the Maloof brothers between the third and fourth periods, and I assume, to provide what I later heard was an encouraging update on the proceedings.

Best wishes to a former colleague

I would be remiss if I didn't offer a word or two about my longtime Bee colleague Sam Amick, who is leaving The Bee for a job with AOL fanhouse after five years as the Kings beat writer. As a former Clippers/Lakers/Hawks and NBA beat writer and columnist - the NBA ran my life throughout the Bird-Magic 1980s and early 90s - I have a tremendous appreciation for the demands of the job, and Sam's professionalism throughout. He is a tireless, conscientious worker, a wonderful communicator, and blessed with terrific people skills. I'll take some credit for touting him for a fulltime position at The Bee, and later, endorsing his selection as Kings beat writer. Wishing him the best, as a former colleague, and more importantly, as a friend. That said, I believe his successor, Cal grad and ex-Raiders beat writer Jason Jones, will do a fine job. He'll find the NBA schedule exhausting and the rhythm completely different, but as Ron Artest would say, he'll adapt.


While changing channels between the figure skating performances at the Vancouver Olympics - love that stuff! - I caught ESPN's blurb about the Memphis Grizzlies sending rookie center Hasheem Thabeet to the Developmental League. This is beyond embarrassing for a No..2 NBA Draft pick. The onus here, though, is clearly on meddling Griz owner Michael Heisley. The basketball people definitely wanted to draft local Memphis standout Tyreke Evans, but were overruled by their boss. For some reason, Heisley bought into the old school theory about the need to draft centers - even longterm projects - even though far superior players were available.

If Evans had gone to the Grizzlies, and Oklahoma City had stuck with James Harden at No.3, I'm confident the Kings would have bypassed Thabeet (whew!) and selected a point guard - albeit, the wrong one. From all accounts, they would have drafted Jonny Flynn, leaving Stephen Curry for Golden State. As Doug Collins noted on TNT's telecast of the Nuggets-Warriors game earlier tonight, most NBA types failed pegged Curry as an undersized shooting guard and failed to appreciate his pure point guard skills. As I have mentioned before, my dream backcourt for the upcoming decade is Curry-Evans, with Curry at the point. Don't think even the Warriors are dumb enough to make that move, however.

So, as the season continues to go south, that's the good news. Also, unless the Kings catch a wave, they have a great shot at another top five draft pick.

For all those Rush Limbaugh partisans

I heard from several Rush Limbaugh fans today, mostly chiding me for referencing him in my column about Paul Westphal's decision regarding Spencer Hawes. For those who might not have been following the drama, Westphal placed Hawes on the inactive list Tuesday after the third-year center voiced his frustration about roles, rotations, and substitutions. Of course, Evans and Sean May voiced very similar comments, and neither was punished. Westphal explained that May apologized, Evans was only speaking in generalized, and .... well, he just seemed ticked off at Spencer. I wrote that it was surprising that Westphal, who is a friend of right-wing blowhard Rush Limbaugh, would attempt to muzzle a player, especially since all of the player comments were relatively mild and matter-of-fact. Anyway, to set the record straight, if Westphal and Keith Olbermann were buddies, I would have offered a similar comment about the bombastic left-wing talk show host. While I thoroughly enjoyed an intelligent, enlivened, provocative discussion - we are all about passion here - if I wanted to be lectured or yelled at, I'd re-enroll in my Catholic grammar school.

Carril keeps the basketball nuggets coming

While chatting with Evans after Thursday's practice, Kings special assistant Pete Carril urged the rookie to take more jump shots, in essence, forcing himself to improve in that area. Carril believes that the passing lanes will open up when Evans starts taking and knocking down jumpers. And who is to argue with the Princeton legend? Carril's insights, astute observations and attention to detail continue to amaze me. Here's another one: In the exact opposite of Jason Thompson, who has huge feet, Omri Casspi's feet are small for someone 6-foot-9. Carril maintains that, as a result, it's imperative that Casspi be fully squared (and therefore balanced) before he releases his jumpers. From what I have seen, Coachie is right on. The problem is that with inconsistent playmaking and passing, and an offense that often results in one-on-one plays and doomed, ill-advised last second hoists, the Kings wings never know when they're going to receive the ball, and too seldom receive the ball in rhythm.

Just a thought: More of Rick Adelman's old elbow series, which involves several players offensively, and fewer of the pick-and-rolls that usually wind up with Evans, Beno Udrih or one of the other Kings dribbling dents into the floor and forcing up bad shots.

February 25, 2010
Thompson out with a bad back

Kings forward/center Jason Thompson could miss up to two weeks with two non-displaced fractures in his lower back. The injury was revealed on x-rays taken after Thursday's practice.

The 6-foot-11 Thompson, who sat out the last two practices, suffered the injury when he took a nasty spill in Tuesday's loss against the Detroit Pistons. He recently was reinserted into the starting lineup in place of Spencer Hawes at center.

Before learning of the extent of Thompson's injury, coach Paul Westphal was still mulling his options for tomorrow night's starting lineup against the Utah Jazz. Here's one hint, though: When the curtain was raised for the closing portion of practice, Hawes was working with the first unit.


PHOENIX - Because my colleague and Kings beat writer Sam Amick took a break after Saturday's road trip to Los Angeles, I was able to watch Steve Nash perform before his home crowd. His act never gets old. It's hard to believe he's 35, hampered by a sore lower back, and still playing almost 34 minutes a night with two months of the season remaining. The man is a marvel, a 6-foot-3 magician with a basketball.

His 17-assist effort against the Kings did the following:
- Kept him locked with the injured Chris Paul at a league-leading 11.1 assists per game.
- Eclipsed the Kings total number of assists (16)
- Reminded everyone again of what an exceptional point guard Kevin Johnson was.

After Nash had pierced the Kings defense with 16 dimes by the end of the third quarter, the Suns media department informed media members that he needed only four assists to become the club's all-time franchise leader in 20-assist games. Since he only played four minutes in the fourth period and only added one assist, he and KJ remain tied with seven 20-assist games. Sac's mayor holds the Suns' record for most assists in a game - 25 against San Antonio on April 16, 1994 - but in an imaginary duel between legendary Suns point guards, Nash said he likes his own chances. "Right now I think I've got him at point guard," Nash quipped. "Right now."

SCRAPPING FOR MINUTES

With Paul Westphal continuing to experiment with various combinations, the battle for playing time is intensifying. Francisco Garcia - recently activated after missing the entire season with a fractured wrist - didn't get off the bench. (Still can't figure why he started Saturday night against the Clips). Anyway, he was joined on the bench last night by Andres Nocioni, whose recent struggles certainly could't have enhanced his trade value. Additionally, Spencer Hawes committed five fouls in a mere 11 minutes.


ALSO, OF NOTE ...

Westphal rated Omri Casspi's four-point, two-rebound effort arguably "his worst of the season," and suggested that them rookies' four turnovers were reminiscent of his struggles during preseason ... I understand the necessity for spacing on offense, but as someone along press row commented during the Kings' third-quarter lull, when Casspi and the Kings other wings were dispatched to the outer reaches during another isolation sequence, "That's what I hate about the NBA." Move, move, move .... Amare Stoudemire says his first preference has always been to remain with the Suns, and now that the Feb. 18 trade deadline is passed, he's playing some of the season's best basketball. He finished with 19 points and 14 boards, including eight on the offensive end ... Not that anyone thinks of the Suns and thinks "great defense," but they held an opponent below 100 points for the third straight game. The Kings' 15-point third quarter also was an opponents season low. "I thought we did a great job," said coach Alvin Gentry. "I thought Steve (Nash) did a really good job on Tyreke (Evans). We probably did the best job that we've ever done as far as dribble penetration." ... A final thought about US Airways Arena: I haven't covered a game here for a few years, but the building remains one of the most physically appealing and functional facilities in the league. The exterior glass facade that was added a while back is stunning ...



February 21, 2010
In game blog: Kings vs. Suns

FINAL: Suns 104, Kings 88

PHOENIX - Besides all those Steve Nash assists, one play epitomized the Kings miserable 104-88 loss to the Suns. With 2:19 remaining, Donte Greene bounced a pass to Carl Landry, who slipped as the ball approached, leading to yet another missed opportunity. Tyreke Evans put his face in his hands. Paul Westphal called a timeout. And the Suns dancers pranced out onto the court for the customary, end-of-game free T-shirt toss.

It was another of those nights. Six Suns finished in double figures, led by Jason Richardson with 24. Nash burned the Kings with 17 assists, or one more than the Kings.

Landry led the Kings with 18 points and Beno Udrih had 17 off the bench.

After a competitive opening half, the game got away from the Kings quickly in the final period. Channing Frye curled inside and was fouled, and after Tyreke Evans missed a high-arching runner, Grant Hill blew downcourt for a jam. That made it 80-69 Suns, forcing Paul Westphal to call a timeout.

Even with Nash on the bench, the Kings didn't have enough juice to initiate much of a comeback. Through three periods, by the way, the 35-year-old point guard had 16 assists - one more than the entire Kings team.

Before play resumed, he responded to the public address announcer's comment - Canada losing to the U.S. in hockey - with a grin and a thumbs down.

THIRD QUARTER: Suns 75, Kings 69

Steve Nash was listed as questionable before the game because of lower back issues, so of course, he not only starts, he had 10 assists by halftime. With just under eight minutes remaining in the third period, he had 13 assists - meaning he had assisted on more than half of the Suns field goals.

Forget what I said earlier about no 24-second violations. The Kings were just tagged with the game's first - in the middle of a Suns run. Nash is orchestrating the offense, finding Amare Stoudemire and Robin Lopez inside, and the Suns' two big guys are having their way against the Kings interior defense.

Paul Westphal is tinkering with his lineup even more than usual. Ime Udoka and newcomer Dominic McGuire already have seen decent minutes.

Donte Greene, who was 0-for -4 in Saturday's loss to the Clippers, is having a strong game with 16 points. His three from the right corner slowed a Suns run and kept the score close entering the final period.

HALFTIME: Kings 54, Suns 51

This is the type of up and down half you expect in this building. There was no danger of either team committing a 24-second violation. But for most of the secone period, the Kings were even more effective in the open court than the Suns. Beno Udrih came in and gave a life, both with a pair of a jumpers and four quick assists. The nicest play of the half was a two-on-one break, with Omri Casspi grabbing a steal, pushing the ball ahead, and finding Tyreke Evans streaking in for one of those reverse layups, where he takes that extra long stride that frees him under the basket.

The one thing the Kings aren't doing is disrupting Jason Richardson. A notoriously streaky shooter, Richardson erupted for 19 points, almost none of which were contested. Donte Greene and Carl Landry led the Kings with 11 and 10 points, respectively.


FIRST QUARTER (Kings 27, Suns 25)
Carl Landry obviously didn't let his struggles in his Kings debut against the Clippers last night damage his confidence. The Kings went to him often, beginning with the opening sequences, and he responded with an excellent opening quarter. He converted three of his first shots and collected five rebounds before getting a breather. One one possession, he tossed up an inside shot that missed badly, but pursued the rebound and scored on a reverse.

In contrast to recent games, the Kings did a decent job getting back in transiition - critical against the Suns.

I just got off the phone with Kings co-owner Joe Maloof, who revealed that rookie Tyreke Evans is among the 30 or so invitees who will dine with President Barack Obama in a few hours at George Maloof's house in Las Vegas. For those who might have forgotten, prior to the NBA Draft, Obama urged the Kings to select the 6-foot-6 freshman out of Memphis. Understandably - and the he nation's ongoing economic problems notwithstanding - the Maloofs remain staunch Obama supporters. "If he (Obama) gets tired of his day job," quipped Joe Maloof, "he can come to work for us as a scout." The owner said the invitation to his star rookie was an impulsive, last-minute decision. "I thought, 'geez, the president told us to pick him. The least we can do is invite him to fly in and join us for the dinner.' "


NEW YORK - As I mentioned last night, for the first time in my sports journalism career, I was unable to reach an event because of travel-related issues. That East Coast snow storm forced cancellation of flights out of New York earlier today, precluding me from reaching Detroit for Wednesday's Kings-Pistons game at the Palace of Auburn Hills. And this is why teams travel by charter these days: the Kings flew out of New York shortly after defeating the Knicks Tuesday night, departing a few hours before snow blasted the city. I, on the other hand, walked right into the wet white stuff when I left Madison Square Garden after filing my stories around midnight.

There are worse things, of course, than being stuck an extra night in my native New York: Manhattan has an abundance of sports bars, and after calling around, I found a place near my Midtown hotel that was showing the Kings-Pistons game. So, thanks to the folks at the Stags Head tavern on 51st and Second Avenue. The place was mobbed - what were all these people doing out in a snowstorm anyway? - but the manager found me a spot on the second floor and switched the television from UConn-Syracuse to Kings-Pistons upon my request.

Though there was no volume, I read Paul Westphal's postgame quotes, and couldn't agree more. Although rookies Tyreke Evans and Omri Casspi admittedly are exhausted and eager for a few days off, post the Rookie Challenge, coaches hate when positive momentum is disrupted. Two wins in three road games. I think that qualifies as a great trip ...

OVERTIME: Kings 118, Knicks 114

NEW YORK - With strong efforts from several of the Kings, including Kevin Martin in overtime, and Tyreke Evans in a spectacular closing stretch of the fourth period, the streak ends - finally.

The Kings leave for Detroit in a few minutes, no longer burdened by a six-game losing streak.

After finishing regulation with two nifty assists to Jason Thompson, in the extra period, Evans was again a playmaker. After Martin stroked three consecutive jumpers, including a three from the top of the circle, the rookie point guard penetrated and passed out to Martin, all alone in the left corner.

Before Martin even launched the ball, Paul Westphal was raising his arm on the sideline, ready to punch the air. The Kings reserves were on the feet, willing the ball into the net. When it did, the question became the familiar - but could they hold on?

FOURTH QUARTER: Knicks 105, Kings 105


While Jewish groups purchased at least 1,000 fans to see Kings rookie Omri Casspi, the first Israeli to play in the NBA, the Madison Square Garden crowd was mesmerized by another rookie - Tyreke Evans - during a spectacular closing sequence of regulation.

In a five-minute span that forced overtime, the 6-foot-6 Evans drove for two layups, twice found Jason Thompson for dunks, and grabbed the rebound that set up the tying field goal.

For the second time in as many nights, the Kings were competitive despite their usual issues perimeter defense, interior defense, and turnovers. Turnovers by Evans, Sergio Rodriguez, Kevin Martin and Andres Nocioni during one particularly sloppy stretch at the end of the third period precluded the Kings from gaining on the Knicks - hardly one of the league's more intimidating defensive squads.

Nocioni, who had a miserable night, throwing away balls, getting stripped of rebounds, committing senseless fouls, lost the ball again, giving the Knicks another fastbreak opportunity for a 98-83 lead.




THIRD QUARTER: Knicks 84, Kings 76

Paul Westphal apparently didn't like Spencer Hawes' defensive effort in the opening minutes of the game. Hawes was benched six minutes into the game and spent the duration of the evening on the sidelines. The Kings opened the second half with Jon Brockman and Ime Udoka on the floor, with Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi and Jason Thompson.

The game was close until David Lee got on a roll. The Knicks center and free agent to be scored on a rebound, hit free throws, converted another jumper, and blocked a shot. The Kings also became sloppy in the closing minutes, committing three silly turnovers before the period ended.

At one point, with Casspi at the line, a few sections of the Madison Square Garden crowd chanted, "Om-ri CASS-Pi." Several of the Kings players on the bench cracked up.


FIRST QUARTER (Knicks 22, Kings 26)

NEW YORK - Omri Casspi appeared to shake any pregame jitters and led the Kings in the opening period with nine points and two rebounds. But the struggles at the foul line continue. Donte Greene failed on both his attempts and Kevin Martin, who came off the bench after missing shooting with a migraine, missed a pair as well. The defense was, um, again, but the good news for the Kings? The Knicks aren't defensive wizards, either.

February 9, 2010
Kevin Martin ailing


NEW YORK - Kevin Martin will be coming off the bench tonight because he skipped shootaround with a migraine headache. (No shootaround, no start). He felt much better by the time he arrived at Madison Square Garden and expected to play. Despite his earlier discomfort, he was joking around, and grinned while watching the throng of media members crowding around Omri Casspi.

February 9, 2010
Snowed in


NEW YORK - About three hours ago, I learned that my morning flight to Detroit for tomorrow 's Kings-Pistons game has been canceled in anticipation of a major snowstorm that is expected to blanket the region, beginning at midnight. No worries for you KIngs fans, though. The team will charter out after the Kings game, ostensibly, before the storm hits. Also, the Bee is hiring a writer from one the Detroit newspapers to cover the game. Although I have traveled more than a million miles covering sports, mostly while assigned to the Clippers, Lakers, the NBA and the Angels and Dodgers, this is the first time bad weather has precluded me from making it to an event. Thus, the streak ends. Bummer. I don't know what that tells me about the state of our airline industry. Are airlines more careful these days or is the state of the industry worse than we suspect? Anyway, I have to think one of the Knicks publicists for alerting me to the severity of the storm early this afternoon and advising me to contact the airlines ASAP. New York city public schools canceled tomorrow's classes, as well.

RAPTORS 115, KINGS 104

TORONTO -The early wakeup call wasn't the problem. Although the Kings were still on Pacific Standard Time, having arrived here early Saturday evening, their effort during Sunday's noon tipoff wasn't the issue. They received balanced scoring, amassed 36 points on the break, and held a seven-point lead early in the final period.

But Chris Bosh had 36 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, and besides committing untimely turnovers in the final period, the Kings succeeded only only 25 of 36 free throw attempts.

Kevin Martin led six Kings in double-figures with 24 points and seven rebounds.

The Kings, who dropped their sixth straight, squandered opportunities to give themselves a decent cushion entering the final period, but Donte Greene, who had hit three consecutive treys in the third period, missed two of three free throws. Beno Udrih couldn't convert on a technical called against Raptors point guard Jarrett Jack, and then missed two more attempts, followed by a Kevin Martin miss. The Raps capitalized on consecutive turnovers by Greene (ballhandling error) and Nocioni (bad pass), exploited Bosh's explosiveness around the basket, took advantage another failed free throw attempt by Greene ....

Defensively, the Kings just had no answer for Bosh. The left-hander, who will be among the most coveted free agents this summer, torched the visitors with mid-range jumpers, spin moves underneath, follow shots, dunks, blocks, and a terrific pass to Andrea Bargnani that stretched the lead to double-digits with just over three minutes remaining. The Raptors' ball movement is sensational. They get easy shots because they are such willing passers. Not a great defensive squad, though, by any means.


THIRD QUARTER (Kings 87, Raptors 84)

Coach Paul Westphal changed his lineup yet again. After starting Omri Casspi and Donte Greene at forward, he went with Andres Nocioni and Jason Thompson after intermission. He clearly approved of Nocioni's physical defense on Hedo Turkoglu. I also just noticed an interesting stat from the halftime box: the Kings had 26 fastbreak points.

Thompson just picked up his fourth foul. Again, he started to argue with the official, but Tyreke Evans wisely pulled him away. Too bad. Thompson was playing well offensively and going to the boards. And just like that, Turkoglu gets out in the open court and hurts his old team with a layup and a three from the top. This is a critical stretch here, with the Raps pulling ahead by six.

Westphal's latest substitution - Greene for Nocioni - worked perfectly. Donte drilled three consecutive three's to give the Kings their first lead of the afternoon, with two from the right elbow, one from the right corner, on nice setups by Evans. The Kings had chances to pad their lead, but Evans lost the ball and, after being fouled on his fourth three-point attempt, Greene missed two of three foul shots. For change, the Kings caught at break at the end of the period when Ime Udoka tipped in a miss just before the buzzer and the Raps were assessed a technical for arguing that the shot should not have counted.

SECOND QUARTER ( Raptors 62, Kings 59)

Jason Thompson, who missed the previous games to spend time with relatives following the death of his cousin in Philadelphia, gave the Kings a lift before getting tagged with his third foul. Coming off the bench for Donte Greene, he scored on a layup in the opening period, then added another layup, a follow shot and two free throws early in the second quarter. He didn't rush his shots. In contrast to some of the Kings recent games, the ball movement was excellent. Rookie point guard Tyreke Evans penetrated and found open teammates for jumpers and layups.

Kevin Martin seemed pretty lively. His pullup jumper on the break pulled the Kings to 52-49, and after another Raptors turnover, he attacked the basket against Hedo Turkoglu and earned free throws. (Have to admit - those protective facemasks are not very flattering, though it didn't affect Hedo's performance). Martin's steal and breakout layup tied the game at 59-59 with 10 seconds to go. Once again, though, an interior defense lapse - Spencer Hawes failing to block on the second of Turkoglu's free throws - enabled Bosh to score a putback at the buzzer.

FIRST QUARTER (Raptors 31, Kings 24)

The noon tipoff - that's 9 a.m. for you folks back home - wasn't kind to the visitors from the West. I counted four airballs in the first five minutes, including a pair by rookie Omri Casspi underneath. For the Raptors, former King Hedo Turkoglu struck for nine quick points on a variety of shots, including a three, a beautiful drive off the glass, and a pair of jumpers. Paul Westphal replaced Casspi with the more physical Andres Nocioni with about three minutes remaining. The Kings seemed a little more awake as the game progressed, and they had trimmed a 13-point lead to 31-24 when the buzzer sounded. They also went to the line for 11 free throws, though Kevin Martin missed two of his freebies.

February 5, 2010
Curling, as punishment


TORONTO - I'm filling in for Kings beat writer Sam Amick on the Kings upcoming three-game road trip against the Raptors, Knicks and Pistons, and just my luck, I arrived at the downtown hotel early this evening only to learn that ESPN's Canadian affiliate, TSN, is showing a curling event on the main cable channel instead of the NBA double-header. All I can figure is that I am being punished for all those years of ridiculing women who treat their pets like children, until of course, I became one of those women who treat their pets like children. Thus, I was forced to choose between watching one of the silliest of sports (curling) and a movie. I opted for "Amelia," though I did catch the Kings first-half score on the TSN ticker. Even from afar, it looked like another pathetic effort, especially defensively. I also finalized arrangements to meet with Hedo Turkoglu after Raptors practice in the morning. The popular one-time King has hit hard times here, and I'm sure I'll hear all about it. You'll read about it in The Bee on Sunday.



David Stern's decision to suspend Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton for the season - without pay - for the recent incident involving guns in the Verizon Center locker room strikes me as totally reasonable. Given that Arenas previously had been cited for possessing an unlicensed gun, the punishment might even be considered lenient. The notion that NBA players need to carry guns to protect themselves remains one of the more ridiculous things I've heard in years. As one club's security official reminded me recently, the higher profile players rarely venture anywhere without a team's media representative or security employee tagging along. Really, the whole need-to-carry-guns' protection argument - certainly for NBA players - is macho nonsense. Okay, end of rant ...


Skating away

Kings co-owner Joe Maloof didn't accompany family members Gavin and Colleen on the recent 0-6 road trip because he is in South Africa, evaluating sites for a possible skateboarding event in 2011. According to Gavin, his older brother - a serious dog lover - went on a safari, and was enthralled by the wildlife.

How quickly they forget

I spent the late afternoon interviewing Omri Casspi at his home on the Sacramento River, and one of the more revealing nuggets is this: He knew his coach, Paul Westphal, was a former NBA All-Star, but had no sense of his game. The Israeli rookie was surprised to hear that Westphal was a dynamic scorer and tremendous left-handed dunker, as well as an accomplished "cherry picker." Kings assistant Truck Robinson, Westphal's longtime friend and former Suns teammate, loves to talk about how he would grab a rebound and look downcourt, only to see Westphal streaking toward the opposite basket, awaiting for the outlet pass. This is interesting because, despite Casspi's recent struggle for playing time, he is an exceptional runner, and not unlike Westphal, a quick, athletic dunker on the break. I will add here that, until the Kings guards learn to advance the ball more quickly, via the pass instead of the dribble, they are wasting the talents of Casspi, Donte Greene, Jason Thompson, and particularly, Kevin Martin. The death-by-dribbling offense also is not a particularly entertaining style of play.


When you struggle? What do you do? You go back to what works, right? After a four-year sabbatical from his daily tutorials at the knee of legendary Pete Carril, struggling Kings guard Kevin Martin approached the club's long-time special assistant and asked for guidance. "Back to the basics, basketball 101 with coach Carril," Martin said after the two spent about 30 minutes working on shooting technique, among other things, following Monday's practice. "Coach saw a few things he needed to fix." Coachie - and we promise not to call him that except once in a while, because he really hates the nickname - diagnosed two problems with the shooting guard's game. "First, some of it's mental. Two, he's bringing his hand across his face again (in his shooting motion), like he did when he first came into the league, blocking his view of the basket. So we worked on that. It can take some time, but he can get back (to his pre-injury form)." Earlier in the day, Martin also met with Kings coach Paul Westphal, who urged his player to stop worrying about fitting in and to start playing more aggressively.


Without any disrespect to Blake Griffin, who would have been everyone's choice with the No.1 pick in last summer's draft, the announcement that he was undergoing season-ending knee surgery reminded me of the local Draft Lottery festivities at Chris Webber's old restaurant in Natomas, and as they say, how you just never know. Joe and Gavin Maloof were immensely disappointed that night because the Kings - who had the worst record in the league - lost the battle of the ping pong balls, finishing with the No.4 pick. The ultimate indignity - or so it was thought at the time - was that the Clippers won the Lottery and the right to draft Griffin, a bruising power forward out of Oklahoma.

As it turns out, though, Griffin is the second of the Clippers' No.1 picks to sustain a season-ending injury in his rookie season. I covered the Clips when Danny Manning tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Milwaukee in 1988 after playing only 26 games, and he was never the same. He was hampered by knee problems throughout a productive, but not exceptional career. The hope here is that Griffin recovers completely and escapes the curse of the Clips, though one has to wonder. Donald Sterling's club has experienced two winning seasons in 30 years. TWO winning seasons in 30 years! Once again, the distinction belongs to Larry Brown, as brilliant a coach as he is a drama queen.

The Kings? You think Geoff Petrie and the Maloofs aren't thinking that, finally, after the devastating Webber injury and its debilitating impact on the franchise, that the basketball gods aren't gazing favorably on Sacramento? Not only is Griffin ailing, but Tyreke Evans was on the draft board only because Memphis selected Hasheem Thabeet, Oklahoma City took James Harden, and Petrie and Paul Westphal made the wise decision to draft the gifted Evans instead of Jonny Flynn, Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings or Ricky Rubio, despite the club's obvious need for a true point guard and a charismatic personaltiy/player to boost ticket sales. There is no such thing as a Comeback Executive of the Year award, but if there were, Petrie is the leading candidate. Evans. Omri Casspi. Jon Brockman. And why do I suspect he's going to pull off one of his infamous trades by the Feb. 18 deadline? Sometimes you just have to ride the wave ....


Overheard at Arco Arena

This wasn't my line, but it was pretty good, so I'll share it. With Spencer Hawes, Francisco Garcia, Kenny Thomas and Evans seated in the front row during Urijah Faber's WEC mixed martial arts fight against Raphael Assuncao last Sunday, someone mentioned that the WEC demographic is dominated by males, aged 18-34 ... and Gavin Maloof. It was true. And hilarious. The Kings co-owner is a huge fan, and he went nuts when Faber, who has become a close friend, won by submission in the third round. Maloof told me later that the Kings are planning a Urijah Faber night, probably in February. Asked why his brother Joe wasn't in attendance, Gavin frowned. Seems Joe likes the sport ... from a distance. True to the demographics, matriarch Colleen Maloof can't even deal with the spectacle on television.


One more thing ...

With Griffin sidelined until next season, Evans will be the Rookie of the Year, barring some unforeseen development. That would be a wonderful accomplishment, but historically, not all the significant. Many a ROY has failed to fulfill expectations. That won't be Evans, the gifted 20-year-old who physically is a smaller version of LeBron James, but it's all in the books. More on that in the future.


It seems hard to believe because she is such a passionate Kings fan, but Biba Caggiano, whose fine dining Italian restaurant, Biba, is a local institution, attended her first game at Arco Arena Tuesday night. I spotted her seated courtside - five seats down from Colleen Maloof - and caught up with her at intermission. Suffice to say, the early review was a thumbs down. The Kings were sluggish and sloppy, and after trailing by 20 points, were still down 14 at the break. "I was so excited to come," said the disappointed restaurateur, in her charming Italian accent. "I have lived here for 45 years, and this is my first time. But they are not playing so good. I don't know what to do to get them to jump up and down!" To be fair, I approached Biba again after the Kings' had rallied impressively and tied the score in the fourth quarter, only to lose another squeaker. "I enjoyed it very much," she said, "but I wanted them to win ..."

Interestingly, the two women - among the most powerful females in the community - had never met until last night. Colleen told Biba she had heard wonderful things about her restaurant and planned to visit in the near future.

And since none of this stuff should ever be taken too seriously, consider Biba's timely retort when I jokingly chided her for previously never having attended an NBA game: "Well, have you ever been in the kitchen?" Touche. Somehow, she accurately sensed that my culinary ability is limited to tossing salad into a bowl and adding a splash of dressing.

Thoughts on another schizo night

Or, here's what crippled the Kings against the Suns:
* An uninspired start. The Kings were outhustled throughout the opening half, with their lack of defensive intensity most troubling. Their transition defense again was nonexistent, enabling the Suns to repeatedly score on breakouts. Is a pattern developing here?
* An inability to finish around the basket. Jason Thompson and Tyreke Evans missed crucial chippies in the closing minutes.
* An anemic 4-for-18 adventure from three-point range.
* Spencer Hawes' erratic performance. And here's Paul Westphal's dilemma: When his 7-foot center is not on the court because of his defensive and rebounding deficiencies, it hurts the Kings offensively. The offense is most efficient with Hawes at the high post - the elbow series - finding cutters, hitting three's, setting screens, seizing openings to the basket. His wicked screens freed Evans up for several nifty dribble-drives in the most recent loss to the Lakers.
* Zero points from Beno Udrih until the 4:35 mark of the final period.
* The failure to feed the hot hand: Omri Casspi struck for two three's in the opening minutes of the final period, but was never again involved in the offense. Evans' looked him off once on a fastbreak that resulted in a turnover, then missed him again and drove into a crowd of defenders, forcing a shot - the first poor decision with the game tied at 97-97, the second after Jason Richardson scored to give the Suns a 99-97 lead.
* Lost in the outcome was an exceptional statistical effort by Evans: 27 points (on 10 of 23), 11 rebounds, seven assists, and only two turnovers. When he realizes he doesn't have to fly solo at the end of games, he will truly be unstoppable.


Just asking

Is it possible that the Kings' three best players (along with Kevin Martin) are rookies? After collecting only one rebound in the opening half, Casspi finished with 24 points and seven boards.

Some things never grow old

Steve Nash continues to lead the league in assists. At age 36. Amazing. Remarkable. Ridiculous. Stocktonesque. While he appeared to tire in the closing minutes, and committed most of his seven turnovers against Evans' physically punishing defense, this is efficiency: 30 points on 8-of-16 shooting, 12 assists, three rebounds, and 13-for-13 at the foul line. When I asked about his endurance, Nash said he has cut refined sugar out of his diet, and notices a difference in his ability to recovery from games and nagging injuries.

December 28, 2009
No hard feelings ...

Former Monarchs forward Rebekkah Brunson, a starter on the team that won the 2005 WNBA Championship, hugged Gavin Maloof as the Kings co-owner walked through the tunnel after the Kings' victory over the Nuggets. (The Maloofs recently ceased operations of the franchise, primarily to devote their full attention to rebuilding the Kings). Brunson said she was immensely disappointed by the decision, but harbors no ill feelings. "I understand that this is a business," she said. "It's probably going to take two or three years to completely turn the (Kings) franchise around. But after that, I want them to bring us back. I want them to get another WNBA club. The city is going to miss us." Both Joe and Gavin Maloof have said they are receptive to the idea of owning another WNBA squad in the future, provided the league remains viable."

Coaxing them back

The "We Want You Back" campaign - the Maloofs' attempt to entice former season ticket holders to reinvest in the club - resulted in approximately 100 new/old season ticket purchases during the game, according to a team source. Before tipoff, an estimated 3,000 former season ticket holders took the Maloofs up on their offer of two free tickets, a buffet dinner, and a chat with the head coach. Paul Westphal, who already has plenty on his, um, plate, nonetheless mingled with fans for about 30 minutes as they enjoyed the buffet. Westphal, in fact, has been amazingly accommodating for someone whose main task is turning last year's 17-65 win team into an entertaining and competitive product.


Brockman's effort reminiscent of another JB

They were totally different players, of course, but Brockman is endearing himself to Kings fans because he plays with the passion and energy of former guard whose initials happen to be J.B. - Jon Barry, now a superb NBA analyst with ESPN. I also loved how Brockman explains his success at bumping larger, more talented players under the basket, which enables him to grab an inordinate share of rebounds for an undersized 6-foot-7 power forward. "It is mostly keeping them busy and moving around a lot," he said after collecting 10 boards. "I'm kind of like a pest. I think because I am shorter, I can get a little lower on their legs. That's where all your strength comes from. You're not pushing with your upper body, because then you would be off-balance."


The question on everybody's mind immediately after the Kings' double-overtime loss to the Lakers late Saturday night, the one that was repeated among fans seated near press row, was why Tyreke Evans continues to go one-on-one in late-game situations, or essentially, whether the rookie is breaking plays and resorting to the individual style or simply following his coach's instructions.
This just in: This is the Kings' late-game offense, as directed by Paul Westphal.
"One-four flat," Westphal explained forcefully in his press conference. "That's what we did. We'll do it again. You'll see it a lot." When a reporter brought up the fact that Evans was matched up against a superb defender in Kobe Bryant during one of the pivotal possessions, much as he was against LeBron James in Wednesday's overtime loss to the Cavaliers, Westphal continued, stubbornly: "He's our guy, and we're going to our guy in situations like that, and put the game in his hands." Referring to his decision to again eschew the timeout and advance the ball immediately for the potential game-winner in the waning seconds of regulation, he added, "It depends on the situation. It's not that complicated a play, for everybody (else) down at the baseline, the best one-on-one player at the top, try to get the last shot, either make it at the buzzer, or go to overtime." In this instance, Evans again took too much time to initiate anything and wound up losing the ball to Bryant just before the buzzer.
Undoubtedly, this is not a topic that will disappear. While Westphal and team officials frequently refer to a young Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant when discussing the abilitiesof their own talented rookie, it should be noted that Jordan and Bryant flourished only after Phil Jackson became their head coach and implemented his share-the-ball triangle offense, first with Scottie Pippen as the playmaker, and later, with wrinkles that allowed for Shaq's dominance (and passing skills).


Worth noting

While the defeat can be attributed to a multitude of elements - missed free throws, turnovers, horrific three-point shooting (6-for-25), Kobe's greatness, Pau Gasol's interior contributions - it's impossible to ignore the fact that the Kings dominated the first half of the first overtime with a lineup of Beno Udrih, Jason Thompson, Donte Greene, Omri Casspi and Jon Brockman. With Brockman rebounding and triggering fastbreaks, Udrih finding Casspi for a breakout layup, Thompson sticking a 15-footer, and Udrih converting a short leaner for a 101-94 lead and 2:40 remaining, the Kings appeared poised for the upset.


Lost in the deadline crunch

* My candidate for play of the game: Greene's block on Kobe's baseline jumper with 52 seconds remaining in regulation. Rarely does that happen. The second-year forward also stole three balls and blocked another shot.
* Spencer Hawes still doesn't go to the basket with enough force, and as a result, gets an inordinate number of shots blocked. At least a few of Gasol's six rejections came against Hawes, but the Kings 7-foot center neutralized Andrew Bynum for stretches, grabbed seven boards in 31 minutes, and led both teams with seven assists, including two beautiful bounce passes to a cutting Udrh on the baseline, a la Vlade Divac. He also matched Kobe with four steals.
* Casspi, who came off the bench when Westphal decided to "bring Beno out of mothballs" to counter the Lakers' lineup without Ron Artest, led the Kings with 10 boards, busted out for one particularly impressive fastbeak basket in traffic, but converted only one of his six three-point attempts. He is much more successful when he takes his time and gets set before releasing the ball, and of course, when he remains patient and doesn't force his offense. His value to the Kings is his all-around game, and he scores most effeciently when the ball moves, he gets out in the open floor, or grabs rebounds and pushes the pace.
* Udrih continues to enjoy a near-remarkable career recovery. A few of the Lakers privately said they were relieved when he wasn't the Kings' option at the end of quarters and games because of his recent habit of converting critical shots.
* The Lakers don't win this game if backup guard Shannon Brown doesn't come off the bench for 15 points and 10 rebounds.
* Evans' mother (Bonita) and grandmother (Alice) sat courtside for a second consecutive game, and seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Both hope to return, despite Bonita's fear of flying. Tyreke's mother also described her son as "sweet," and said he has had the same easy temperament since childhood.
* I make no pretense here: I am not a fan of the isolation game or the Kings' 1-4 offensive sets, with poor Tyreke stuck playing solo while everyone else stands around. But I immensely enjoy watching Westphal work a game, with his willingness to stick with players who are producing as opposed to adhering to a strict rotation, along with his quick grasp of end/quarter situations and offensive/defensive substitutions.

Rekindling old Kings-Lakers feelings

The atmosphere at Arco Arena lalst night was electric, for the first time in what seems forever. Jackson, the Kings longtime agitator, seemed to thoroughly enjoy the old/new experience. And here are Kobe's thoughts on the matter: "To be honest with you, it kind of (bleeped) coming up here the last couple games. It really did. There was no enthusiasm in the crowd. Now it seems like the city is getting behind this team. With what Tyreke's doing, what the young crew's doing ... it felt good to come in here and get booed. (Laugh) It felt normal again. It felt like old times. There was a lot of energy in the crowd. A lot of "hate you" signs. It got back to what it used to be."


Though he prefers to operate behind the scenes, Joe and Gavin Maloof credited outside marketing guru Kevin Kaplan with providing many of the ideas for their aggressive and ongoing ticket sales campaign. The brothers have known Kaplan since their earlier years in their hometown Albuquerque, N.M., and occasionally have enlisted his services in the past. Briefly, Kaplan's approach is a grassroots effort that utilizes high tech computer research and, frankly, common sense. His strategy behind the opening night sellout prompted the Maloofs to secure his ongoing involvement. "In the beginning, we had some tough conversations," Kaplan said the other day. "Everything was laid out there. I told Joe and Gavin that we had to market as if the season as if the team was going to be 0-82." Talks are underway for an estimated 50 ticket promotions, everything from concession stand bargains, parking deals, traditional autograph and meet-and-greet sessions, to a more complicated program with local high schools. (Details not yet finalized). Whatever. The Maloofs seem more energized and less stressed than they have in years. Or as Joe Maloof said Monday, chuckling, "I haven't felt like this since we were in the Western Conference finals."

Cavs, Lakers could be sellouts

By late Tuesday afternoon, Kings officials were projecting a near-sellout for tonight's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers and a standing room only crowd for Saturday's meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Is it the money?

Now this is interesting: Joe Maloof is not only chippy when Sacramento's eventual economic recovery, but he becomes downright giddy when discussing the recent sale of the liquor distributorship in New Mexico - the very foundation of the family empire. Besides virtually eliminating their debt, he said, it has enabled the company to prioritize. It's all about the Kings and the Palms these days, with other ventures in the mix, but not nearly as important.

December 21, 2009
Why we love this game ...


I just returned from vacation, and just my luck, there's no time to ease back into the 5-to-midnight shifts. Still catching my breath. The Kings left the entire league gasping with their remarkable, astonishing, outrageous, memorable, historical - pick your own adjective - comeback against the Chicago Bulls. I watched the second half while jogging on the treadmill and became so engrossed in the closing minutes that I almost fell off the machine. Seriously. I started covering the league in 1981 (Clippers, Lakers, Hawks), and can recall only one other time where I was shocked by the comeback. I can't recall the final score or the deficit at the moment, but it was a Hawks' homecourt victory over Richie Adubato's Orlando Magic sometime in the early 1990s.


Hitting the late-night show

This has been quite the few days for the Kings and the national television audience. A few days after making their 2009-10 national television debut against the Washington Wizards, the Kings were featured heavily in ESPN's highlights after their dramatic victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Tyreke Evans-Brandon Jennings matchup, then closed out their road trip with Monday's comeback win that led off the cable network's late-night highlights. It appears that the Kings have arrived -- or more accurately, re-arrived on the national scene. How long has it been????

Well, he called it ... sort of

In a conversation I had earlier today with Joe Maloof about the organization's vigorous marketing efforts, the Kings co-owner gushed about his three rookies, and couldn't stop talking about his appreciation for Jon Brockman's grit. Little did we know. "The last few years, we didn't have a team people could identify with," he said. "We didn't have the Doug Christies and Bobby Jacksons. Now we have Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi and Jon Brockman - I love Brockman's toughness - and we have a coach the players have total confidence in." After last night, the oldest and most emotional of the Maloof siblings probably added Ime Udoka to that list.

A few more thoughts about "the game"

* While noting the the late-game contributions from Evans, Udoka, Beno Udrih and Jason Thompson, Brockman turned the game. He seemingly got his hands on every loose ball, dove to the floor and deflected balls, provided a physical interior presence against rebounding machine Joakim Noah and the penetrating forays of Derrick Rose, grabbed rebounds or tapped the ball to a teammate, repeatedly affording the Kings second shots.
* Udrih's poise and playmaking were superb down the stretch. He penetrated and found Udoka open in the right corner for those crucial three's, grabbed the late rebound and dribbled out of traffic, then converted the clinching free throws.
* Love the way Paul Westphal uses his roster. The Kings have one star - Evans - until Kevin Martin returns, but Westphal recognized early that he has depth, and a young, feisty roster. One night it's Casspi or Donte Green, the next it's Udoka, Brockman, Thompson or Sergio Garcia. The Kings first-year coach stays with the players who produce ...
* Evans might be even better than Geoff Petrie (and longtime Evans' proponent Jerry Reynolds) expected. Already, the rookie is special, clearly the leading Rookie of the Year candidate. He defends. He rebounds. He competes. He has a knack for making the big shot even though he's an erratic shooter, and as he demonstrated yet again against the Bucks and the Bulls, he breaks down defenders and gets to the basket. Again, beaucoup kudos to Petrie. Evans' potential is unlimited. His stature will grow immensely when he improves in two areas: Perimeter shooting and decision-making. As Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant eventually learned - and as the precocious LeBron James understood at a much earlier age - they can their shot at any time. But winning is all about timing and teamwork. The great players keep their teammates involved, and then take over in the end. Evans continues to miss wide-open teammates on the wings, especially on the break, too often persists in driving into two-three defenders. Make the easy play. Hit the open man. Still thinking the Kings eventually need a premier point guard to distribute, enhance ball movement and free up Evans to do what he does best -- score.


Without belaboring the obvious, specifically, the Kings' futility at the foul line for a second consecutive game, at least the problems earlier tonight were limited to three players: Only three Kings even made it to the foul line, which is something I haven't seen since I can't remember when. Andres Nocioni, who missed the crucial free throw and then committed a lane violation with one second remaining, was 2-for-6. Jason Thompson was 2-for-5. Rookie Tyreke Evans was 5-for-8.

And, not that the Kings need any reminders, but I can hear Pat Riley, Gregg Popovich, Larry Brown, Phil Jackson, etc., venting about how close games are won with free throws and rebounds. Spencer Hawes' inability to box out didn't help, either, nor did Thompson's early departure with six fouls - in 30 minutes. Love JT's passion and elbow jumper, but at some point, he has to start displaying some poise and common sense. Grabbing an opponent's jersey? Overtly hooking David West - I think it was West - with his left hand, and then behaving like the aggrieved party when he gets caught? All in the fourth quarter? Seriously. Those were easy, obvious calls, yet Thompson persisted with his chronic, season-long tantrum that has to wear on the referees. Continue with the dramatic displays of distemper, and they'll remain irritated and continue to make his life miserable. And this has nothing to do with Tim Donaghy, "60 Minutes," or Game 6 of Kings-Lakers, by the way, and everything to do with human nature. I suspect Paul Westphal has already had this chat with his second-year forward, probably on that late-night flight to San Antonio ...


Maybe the best, so far

Evans has had more explosive scoring nights, but this might have been his most impressive and complete game. Defense. Rebounding. Scoring. Scoring in the deciding fourth period. Most importantly, his quicker decision-making. I loved his feel for when to push the pace, when to attack the basket in the half-court, and then moving without the ball, understanding that he would get the ball back. This is not a selfish team. And what's scary, at age 20, his combination of size, strength and defensive instincts clearly distinguish hiim from many of his talented young peers - among them the explosive Brandon Jennings. Westphal also raves about his study habits and keen intellect.

Geoff Petrie (and Jerry Reynolds, who loved the kid before anyone else) made what is looking to be a brilliant pick at No.4. If management can avoid overhyping (and ruining) the youngster in their desire to sell tickets and market a future star, the Rookie of the Year race will be the least of his accomplishments.


Oh, and about point guards ...

If Evans, Beno Udrih and Sergio Rodriguez continue to complement each other effectively in the backcourt, the Kings will be just fine in the playmaking department for the near future. But who knew? Beno, steady, unflappable, a consistent mid-range shooter, improved deep shooter, and a far different and superior player than a year ago? Sergio, with his quickness, court vision and passing skills, providing a tempo change and creativity? Tyreke ... well, he's a stud, no question, and a devastating scorer whom I continue to maintain is at his best when not asked to do too much with the ball.

With tthe impending return of Kevin Martin - and eventual return of Francisco Garcia - Petrie has plenty of wing players to dangle when the trade deadline nears. Westphal nailed it in preseason: For the Kings to make the move beyond being intriguing, entertaining, interesting and competitive, to a dangerous young squad, Petrie has to address the feeble frontcourt, and the fact his bigs continue to play small. Was Spencer really among the league's leading shotblockers this time last year? What happened to JT's run of double-doubles? If Petrie can acquire an athletic, muscular center/power forward type who provides a physical defensive presence and consistent rebounding, the Kings accelerate the learning curve.

True, they've lost consecutive tough games. But there is something there. Finally, there is something there ...


Referring to John Whisenant as the former coach/general manager of the Monarchs still seems weird, but since Sacramento's WNBA franchise no longer exists - officially, as of Tuesday - I guess we all have to make the adjustment. Whiz, who proved to be a terrific coach, turning the skeptical team captain Yolanda Griffith into a true believer with his quiet strength, defensive acumen and calm, yet forceful sideline demeanor, doesn't need the money, but he would probably like some work. Given his uneasy relationship with Kings president Geoff Petrie, however, I can't see him becoming part of basketball operations. The Maloofs have tremendous affection for Whisenant, who is a family friend dating back to their ownership of the Houston Rockets in the early 1980s. But contrary to what a lot of people believe, they defer to Petrie, rarely injecting themselves into basketball decisions. Which means .... even though Whiz would probably love to live in Albuquerque and work as a regional scout, it is probably not going to happen.

December 4, 2009
Welcome back, Kings


It shouldn't come as any great surprise that the NBA bosses are putting the Dec.16 Kings-Wizards game on ESPN. There are some REALLY mediocre teams out there this year, and several that are far less interesting than Sac's surprising bunch. Knowing David Stern as I do - and he has input on absolutely everything NBA-related, so I suspect his fingers were all over this decision - he was thinking along these lines: (1) the Kings are entertaining and likeable for the first time in years, or since Vlade Divac left and the roof caved it; and (2) the combination of a emerging young roster, enhanced by the emergence of rookie stud Tyreke Evans and Israeli Omri Casspi, is too good to ignore, .

If the Kings are somehow respectable on the road - always the true measure of a team - this won't be their last appearance this season on national TV.

But about the upcoming schedule, which is increasingly heavy on the road games: Defense, rebounding, ball movement. Oh. And easy baskets. The Kings have to capitalize in transition, utilizing their youth, quickness and athleticism if they want to extend this impressive little stretch.


REMINDS ME OF ....

As I tweeted a few minutes ago, the more I see of Tyreke Evans and his all-court game, the more he reminds me of Dwyane Wade. They have similar body types and are amazingly strong, though Wade is the better athlete and the superior outside shooter. He has a faster motor, too. I suspect Evans will play faster the more confident he becomes, especially now that he plays off the ball so much. Paul Westphal's clever (and increasing) use of Sergio Rodriguez and a three-guard lineup (with Beno Udrih) plays to Tyreke's strengths on the wings.


ON ANOTHER INTERESTING NBA FRIDAY NIGHT ...

- Congrats to the Nets and reluctant coach Kiki Vandeweghe. For sure, 1-18 beats 0-19.
- Kings assistant GM Jason Levien must be excited. His former client, Courtney Lee, was influential in the Nets' victory.
- Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, last-second shots. Remind me. How long has this been going on?
- Clearly, Ron Artest is bored. Or attention-deprived. Looking forward to his first visit to Arco, though. I keep thinking, he's laughing at all of us media types who actually take his outrageous comments semi-seriously.
- How long will it take Blake Griffin to turn the Rookie of the Year race into a three-man sprint? Evans and Brandon Jennings hold the early lead ...
- Spent time recently with Spain's Rodriguez, who grew up in the Canary Islands, just off the coast of Africa. I'll be writing a longer column about him when I return from vacation.


Anyone who has driven the freeways around the Sacramento region the past several weeks has probably noticed the new advertising billboards featuring the Kings. You know. Like the old days? While I was returning to the office from practice a few minutes ago, I noticed a rendering of Tyreke Evans on a billboard on X and 20th, adjacent to the Capital Cities Freeway. It includes the image of a lion, the word "Kings," and then a likeness of the talented rookie. Now, while acknowledging that this is pretty clever marketing - Lion King? Get it? - I have never been in favor of promoting an individual over a team, unless we're talking about a proven superstar such as Shaq, Kobe, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, etc. It simply sends the wrong message - to the player, who is trying to establish himself within the league, and to his teammates, who resent when someone is elevated before their time. Evans is an immense talent - co-rookie of the month - but he has just finished his first month of the regular season. What's wrong with marketing the team and highlighting its young talent/potential (Jason Thompson, Omri Casspi, Spencer Hawes, Kevin Martin, etc.), without fixating on a particular individual?

For those who might have forgotten - and around here, very few have - the Kings who transformed the franchise into an international treasure earlier this decade excelled because of their collaborative effort, not as solo acts. Accordingly, the billboards reflected that theme.

Talk of possible trades dominated the conversation in our Kings live chat with Bee columnist Ailene Voisin. Replay it here.

November 11, 2009
Generating a buzz ....


Though the crowds at Arco Arena have been underwhelming since the opening night sellout, the Kings' surprisingly strong recent performances - and three-game win streak -appears to be generating a bit of a local buzz. For Tuesday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the club sold 500 tickets at the arena before tipoff. Known as "walkups," the pregame window sales are widely regarded as an indicator of fan interest, or lack thereof. According to Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof, who received a call from a ticket sales official early Wednesday, this was the largest walkup since a 2002 matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.

While waiting to hear from my colleague, Sam Amick, who was forced to watch the Kings' season opener from press row in Oklahoma City, I thought I would offer a few thoughts. Without leaping to conclusions - based on one regular season game, the preseason and observing a portion of practices these past several weeks - these are my initial observations:

• The defense can't be this bad. Seriously. No joke. After weeks and months of hearing players, coaches and executives TALKING about a renewed emphasis on defense and rebounding, the Kings' pathetic effort against the Thunder has to be an aberration. If it's not ... well, it has to be.

• Two points scored in transition? The Kings simply don't have the individual talent to rely on halfcourt execution against the league's better defenses. They have to play faster, create transition opportunities off steals and rebounds, and utilize their youth and athleticism. This was Tyreke Evans' debut, but he can't take seven or eight seconds - and I clocked it - to advance the ball on most possessions. He has to pick up the pace. More ball movement and less one-on-one would also be helpful. It would enhance the spacing and create openings for Evans to attack the basket - which he does well, even though he didn't finish against the Thunder. Teams have scouted the rookie. They know he's headed to the rim, and are there waiting for him, at times with multiple defenders. When he plays faster, gives up the ball, moves and gets it back. he will be much more effective.

• I understand Paul Westphal's concerns about his frontcourt players' tendency to get into foul trouble ... and his lack of frontcourt depth. But Spencer Hawes' confidence clearly has been shaken by his relegation to the second unit. He is, after all, still only 21 years old, and for all his loquaciousness, is still a young guy. (Maybe it's a guy thing, but most NBA clubs don't do a good job when it comes to nurturing the youngsters). Besides. When Nenad Krstic scores at will, basically strolls to the basket uncontested, it's time to re-evaluate the notion of starting the undersized Sean May at center ahead of Hawes.

• Where was Beno? The Kings desperately needed floor leadership and ball movement , yet Udrih never got off the bench. Very, very curious.


Injuries in the NBA are as common as the flu/cold, but this preseason has been particularly, um, stressful in that regard. The list of ailing players continues to grow at an alarming pace, and the regular season tipoff remains hours away. The list of wounded - those expected to miss anywhere from a few games to a few months - include the Kings' Francisco Garcia (fractured arm/wrist), Kevin Love (broken hand), Al Jefferson (Achilles tendinitis), Josh Howard (wrist/ankle surgery), Nicholas Batum (shoulder), Glen Davis (thumb) and Blake Griffin, the overall No.1 pick who could miss up to six weeks with a fractured kneecap.

Griffin's absence for the opening weeks (if not longer) is almost a routine blow for the Clippers. The former Oklahoma star was originally hurt when he bumped knees with teammate Craig Smith while scrimmaging a few days before camp opened. He aggravated the injury in Friday's preseason game against New Orleans, continuing to experience swelling even while sitting out subsequent workouts. The extent of the ailment was revealed a few hours ago .... causing the most resilient of Clippers fans to recall the injury-marred careers of the club's former lottery picks Danny Manning (No.1 overall in 1988) and Charles Smith.

Cisco Can't Help Himself

After the Kings' intense, lengthy afternoon practice, a visibly restless Garcia couldn't help himself: When special assistant Pete Carril summoned rookie Tyreke Evans for individual shooting drills in the near-empty facility, Garcia, in street clothes and sneakers, wandered over and joined the informal session. Holding his casted right arm awkwardly in his left hand, he snagged an occasional rebound and swatted balls toward the rookie. Other times, when Carril was quietly offering instruction, the ailing swingman listened intently, just seemed eager to be involved in anything resembling game/practice action.

(Sam Amick jumping in here to provide video of what Ailene is discussing, even if she didn't realize I was filming it. While most of Carril's teachings are inaudible, notice what he says at the end while teaching Evans a running hook going away from the basket - "Every great player that's ever played this game had that shot!")

The Mystery Continues

Paul Westphal remains coy about his starting lineup for Wednesday's season opener, but I find it hard to believe that Spencer Hawes won't be in his customary center spot. True, Westphal is concerned about his two bigs - Hawes and Jason Thompson - getting into foul trouble. Also true, the lack of frontcourt size/depth is scary. But even though Hawes struggled throughout much of camp - and was replaced by Sean May in the starting unit - he had an exceptional practice on Monday. The 7-footer was attacking the basket, scoring on reverse layups, follow shots, jumpers. He also threw some nifty bounce passes and challenged shots around the basket. Spencer is back to being edgy, chatty, combative Spencer. The good Spencer. The question is: Does he get his job back? Anyway, I plan to write about his importance to the Kings and their season for Wednesday's Bee.

October 11, 2009
Stephen Jackson said WHAT?


I was actually going to include these quotes in a story I'm preparing for our NBA preview section, but after Stephen Jackson was suspended by the Warriors for "conduct detrimental to the team," I couldn't resist putting them out there a little sooner. Jackson, who clearly wants out of Oakland, reportedly cursed Nelson after being pulled from the game following his five-foul, one technical stint Friday against the Lakers. Anyway, this is what a temporarily conciliatory Jackson had to say last Tuesday about Nelson and his coach's pursuit of Lenny Wilkens' record for all-time coaching victories. "It will be a pleasure for me to be a part ot if. He (Nelson) has been a great teacher, a great ambassador of the game. And he has done a lot for me, not only giving me confidence, but allowing me to show I can do more than shoot the ball. I had to put the work in, but he gave me the floor. I don't think people understand our relationship. I have the ultimate respect for coach and he has the same for me. I'm forever in debt to him. No question he is my favorite coach and I'm happy to be here."

Guess he changed his mind.

Wonder what Jackson will have to say THIS Tuesday? And can he do anything else to hamper the club's attempts to accommodate his trade request?

IT JUST MAKES SENSE

I'm not surprised to hear that Paul Westphal plans to utilize a three-guard lineup frequently this season. Even before Francisco Garcia's freak weight-lifting accident Friday, a lineup of Beno Udrih, Tyreke Evans and Kevin Martin was said to be under consideration. The Kings' most impressive stretch of the early postseason occurred in the final minutes of Wednesday's loss to the Trail Blazers .... with the maligned Udrih pushing the ball and finding teammates. Makes sense to go with your best players, provided someone can get them the ball.

October 8, 2009
Ready for the real refs ...


Being an NBA referee is a tough job. We get that. We also have been known to point out their blown calls, and on more than one occasion, some of us have referred to the lousy officiating in Game 6 of the 2002 Kings-Lakers Western Conference finals. But after sitting through the Kings-Blazers preseason game at Arco Arena, and watching the replacement refs call a total of 63 fouls - 63 fouls! - I really started to miss Bavetta, Delaney, Javie, Davis, Stafford, Wood, among others. I shudder to think that the labor impasse between the league and its referees could extend into the regular season. Can't happen, right?

Sixty-three fouls. Ugly. The inordinate number of ticky-tack fouls notwithstanding, Jason Thompson (six fouls, 17 minutes) isn't furthering his cause with his incessant complaining. He should have figured that out during his rookie season.

October 5, 2009
The artist in him ...


If Desmond Mason makes the Kings roster, the veteran swingman (and artist) said he would be interested in showing some of his artwork during Second Saturday, the monthly downtown arts festival that has become quite the local event. Mason, 31, who is participating in training camp as a non-guaranteed invitee, is known as one of the league's more accomplished artists. After Monday's practice, he said he has moved away from still life art and currently is working on abstracts. Mason, who played for Paul Westphal in Seattle, is certainly being given a legitimate chance to make a roster that has a glut of small forwards and shooting guards. (The Kings would owe him $825,000). Westphal plans to start his former player in Tuesday's preseason opener at Portland.

The NBA's guidelines regarding "social networking" were revealed tonight after us Bee types had already left the Kings practice facility, so I am sure there will be more on the topic in the days to come. Though the rules aren't very restrictive, I am curious to hear the reaction of the Kings most prolific tweeters - Sean May, Jason Thompson and Donte Greene. In essence, the league's guidelines regarding the use of cell phones PDAs and other communication devices consists of the following:

- Social networking devices are banned from the 45-minute mark before tipoff, throughout the duration of the game (and including halftimes), and continuing through the obligatory post-game media availability session in the locker room;

- The rules apply to coaches, players and others directly involved in the actual game itself, presumably excluding the club's media relations and publicity types

- Teams can implement even more stringent rules, which a number of clubs have done

When I reached Kings media director Troy Hanson late Wednesday evening, he said Geoff Petrie and Paul Westphal were still reviewing the league's guidelines and had yet to formulate the club's own policy.

"We have a couple guys that are very active (May, Thompson, Greene), but they're very good about it," said Hansen, referring to something known as "manners. "I'm sure we'll figure something out for practice, but you won't see guys running over to take a water break, pulling out their cellphones. That's never been the case."

Interestingly, one of the Kings who often breached etiquette was former coach Reggie Theus. The personable Theus just couldn't help himself, hence, the need for a league policy. Reggie often was seen checking his cell phone or making quick calls while conducting practices, and on a number of occasions, he interrupted post-game press sessions to take calls. He curbed the activity after hearing about it from his players and members of the media.

September 29, 2009
Tattoo this!

Paul Westphal hasn't been an NBA coach since midway into the 2000-2001 season, when he was fired by the team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics. He went on to coach the Pepperdine Waves, spent a season on Avery Johnson's bench in Dallas, and otherwise enjoyed life in his native Southern California.

But, he says, forget about any thoughts of a culture shock. The ball is still round. The court is still 94 feet. Players are players. Excluding a few more tattoos, what's so different?"

"I don't think there's any generation gap," Westphal said after Monday's two-hour media session at the Kings practice facility. "The Idea is to get five players who share the ball, who need to play defense, and try to make more baskets than the other team. There have always been selfish players. There have always been players who know how to sublimate their ego for the good of the team. As far as I can tell, you're still fighting that fight. You want to get more of the latter and less of the former."

Westphal, by the way, was a terrific scorer and ferocious one-handed, lefty-dunker in his day, and known for his hops. His playing style was the very antithesis of his conservative politics. (He remains a longtime friend of Rush Limbaugh). Haven't asked him about the onslaught of tattoos since his NBA head coaching days, however. i can't wait to hear his thoughts about Donte Greene's latest display: $600 worth of sketchings that stretch from the top of his left shoulder to his wrist.

As for the coach's thoughts on social networking? Forget about it. He laughed when asked whether he blogs or tweets, though he has no objection to his players doing so -- on their own time.

Although hardly a "Sandy Koufax moment," Kings rookie Omri Casspi will not participate in the opening day of training camp - basically known as media availability day - because Monday is also Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish faith/culture. The famous Dodger lefthander, most baseball fans will recall, refused to pitch Game One of the 1965 World Series because it conflicted with Yom Kippur. Casspi, who will become the first Israeli to play in the league when he suits up on opening night, has been in town the past few weeks scrimmaging and training at the Kings practice site.


Perennial Kings coaching candidate Kurt Rambis, who finally received his second chance as an NBA coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves, has assembled an impressive staff. All three of his assistants - Dave Wohl, Reggie Theus and Bill Laimbeer - have head coaching experience. Wohl was on Pat Riley's staff with the Showtime Lakers before taking over the New Jersey Nets. He has remained in the league as an assistant or front office staffer with several teams, most recently working for Danny Ainge in Boston. Theus coached the Kings for 1 1/2 seasons, of course, after two seasons at New Mexico State. And Laimbeer guided the Detroit Shock to three WNBA titles in his six seasons - and was regarded as an excellent tactician, teacher and motivator.

I spoke with Theus the other day, and while he wouldn't go on-record because nothing had been finalized, he was pretty excited about the possibility of getting another job. He had explored broadcasting opportunities, but really wanted to stay in coaching, preferably in the NBA. "I think of myself as coach," he did say, for the record. "I enjoy that more than anything I've done."


Rubio's decision no surprise to some

I don't know if he's prescient, or was just taking a stab in the dark, but Israeli national team and longtime EuroLeague coach Zvika Sherf told me in Tel Aviv three weeks ago that Ricky Rubio was signing with Regal Barcelona. End of conversation. Since then, Wolves president David Kahn traveled to Spain and reportedly reached a buyout agreement with Rubio's former team in Badalona, only to learn that the Spanish point guard was indeed signing with his hometown Barcelona club. Conspiracy theorists can have at it, but I continue to hear that, until the last minute, Rubio was urging the Wolves to trade his rights to another NBA club, preferably the Kings or the New York Knicks because he had no interest in joining a team that drafted another point guard (Jonny Flynn). The discussion will be ongoing ...




Kurt Rambis turned down the Kings' head coaching job in June because it didn't pay enough (approximately $1.5 million per year) or provide adequate job security (only two years guaranteed). So now he accepts a Minnesota Timberwolves position that pays more - $2 million per season - and offers better benefits (four years). The major downside for the longtime Lakers assistant, of course, will be the longer flight from his beloved Manhattan Beach home.

Given Phil Jackson's tenuous health, why wouldn't Rambis just wait until Jackson retires - assuming that, as the lead assistant, he would be the heir apparent? Assume nothing, as they say. When I spoke with Rambis' agent, Warren LeGarie, a few weeks ago at the Las Vegas Summer League, LeGarie insisted that his client had no clue what Lakers owner Jerry Buss was planning post-Jackson. More ominously, LeGarie said Buss has never gave Rambis any indication - never mind assurances - that he was the likely successor.

Rambis apparently just got tired of the wait. He hasn't been a head coach since succeeding Del Harris and guiding the Lakers to a 24-13 record during the lockout-shortened 1999 season.

TEL AVIV, Israel - Obtaining a visa to play in the United States remains a major irritant for the non-Americans in the league. Most of the time the NBA teams turn their attorneys loose on the immigration matter. But as Omri Casspi is learning - as did Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic and Hedo Turkoglu back in the day - the process is not hassle-free. Multiple time-consuming meetings at the U.S. Embassy remain common. In Casspi's case, the Kings rookie appeared for a 7:30 a.m., appointment on Tuesday and was required to return again Wednesday to finalize the paperwork. He sounded relieved to have the matter resolved. "Done, over," he said afterward. "I'm ready to go."

Since I'm returning home late Thursday night, only two evenings before he returns to the States to begin preparing for his inaugural season, we'll probably meet for coffee in the early afternoon. I have two final interviews scheduled later in the day, including the grand finale with longtime Maccabi Tel Aviv president Shimon Mizrahi.

With his organization in turmoil and the management team in flux, this should be a very interesting meeting. I'm hoping Mizrahi will be as candid as former Maccabi stars Mickey Berkowitz and Tal Brody, though that' s probably asking too much. Perhaps Omri's decision to leave Maccabi for the NBA will prove inspiring. The tape will be rolling ...


Awaiting word on that Kings visit

Many of the basketball types here are eagerly awaiting confirmation on the possibility of a Kings-Maccabi preseason game here in 2010. The last I've heard, nothing is official. Although the NBA and the Kings are pushing for the matchup at the Nokia Center, Maccabi's home court, basketball's international governing body (FIBA) has to approve any such arrangement. There is little reason to think this might not happen, but talks are said to be ongoing. Maccabi hasn't played in America since getting trounced by the Miami Heat in 1999. However, the Israeli basketball behemoth will take on the Clippers in the Staples Center on Oct. 15. They will also play the Knicks on that trip.


Slipping briefly into the role of the tourist

Between interviews Wednesday, I took the bus to Jerusalem to visit a few of the historic religious sites that were missed when Omri drove myself and a photographer to the Old City Sunday for a private tour of the Wailing Wall and surrounding area. I was disappointed to discover that the Temple Mount was closed for the afternoon, so had to settle for hearing the Muslims' call to prayer as I wandered around.

Later, after purchasing a few souvenirs - OK, more than a few souvenirs - I trudged up the hill to the famous King David Hotel. I couldn't resist. I sipped coffee on the balcony cafe where the late Paul Newman wooed Eva Marie Saint in the classic 1960s film, "Exodus," and almost immediate decided that the hotel was even more captivating than a young Paul Newman. The balcony cafe and terrace offer sweeping views of the Old City. (Let's see if my photos come out!). There is also a "Reading Room" just off the lobby that features a wall display of black and white photos chronicling the history of the hotel, and thus, of Israel. I refused to check the room rate, though. I didn't want to know ...

Shalom.



TEL AVIV, Israel - While chatting with Omri Casspi's brother, Eitan, at the family's home in the southern suburbs of the city, the Kings rookie grabbed his laptop to see if the NBA schedule had been released. He was about six hours early - and sure to be disappointed. His friends have all been wondering where he would make his NBA debut. He was hoping for a game in Sacramento or Cleveland against LeBron James. But no such luck. Instead, he gets a trip to Oklahoma City and a three-game road trip.


Coachie grabs the cigar

During one of my most enlightening interviews, I met with former Israeli national team star and ex-Rutgers standout Steve Kaplan, who told me that one of his biggest regrets was rejecting a scholarship offer from Pete Carril and Princeton. Kaplan, who said Geoff Petrie escorted him around campus during his visit many, many, many lives ago, also related one hilarious anecdote about the Kings special assistant: During a rainout at a Carrill basketball camp in the Poconos, Kaplan swears Coachie got onto the court for a few informal games of two-on-two, and competed with a cigar hanging out of his mouth. I would pay to see that.


This is what happens to the kids

While people can debate the issues regarding any deadly political conflict, and undoubtedly will continue to do, there can be no minimizing the devastaing impact on the children. For example: In the dusty city of Sedorot, with about 20,000 residents and a mere 45 minutes south of Tel Aviv, Israeli children are rarely allowed to play outside for fear of mortar or rocket shelling. Though attacks have subsided during the past several months, virtually every house has shed-sized concrete bomb shelters in the front or back yards. When children become restless, parents accompany the youngsters to a large indoor community sports "playground" that features everything from a mini-basketball court to a mutlipurpose room where dances and parties are held. The overhanging roof of the structure isn't secure enough to withstand bombing, but all along the interior, there are numerous anterooms reinforced with 1 1/2 feet of concrete walls. Inside, kids can be seen playing video games, studying on computers, kicking soccer balls, among other things, while their parents participate or observe from a nearby coffee bar/seating area. It wasn't until I visited the "playground" that I truly grasped the significance of the timing element: The alarm system only offers a 15-second warning before an attack. Understandly, parents want to keep their children close. The one outdoor park for the kids ingenuously attempts to disguise bomb shelters as concrete dragons and other animals. I'll be writing about the impact of the shelling on the local pro basketball team shortly upon my return to Sacramento.

As promised the other day, Rabbi Bob Taff of the Mosaic Law Congregation generously chatted on his cell phone a few minutes ago as his tour group of 21 Sacramentans rode on a bus through windy hills in central Israel Friday morning. And, yes, the weary travelers met up with members of Omri Casspi's family shortly after they arrived in Tel Aviv Tuesday evening. In Rabbi Taff's own words: "We arrived about 45 minutes early, and we immediately boarded the bus. I surprised everybody and told them where we were going. They didn't know. The Casspis live in Yavne, a bedroom commuity outside Tel Aviv. When we got there, they were outside the house waitinng for us. It was Omri's father (Shimon), his mother (Ilana). his brother (Eitan), and his sister (Aviv). They invited us into their home, and then we went outside and had refreshments and cold snacks in the back yard. Shimon brought out bottles of wine. Later, I had the kids from each family give them one of the Kings shirts, with Omri's name, and the number on the back. (Rabbi Taff bought these at the team store in Arco Arena) Then the families took a photo with the Casspis ... We were there almost two hours. They were so engaging, so down to earth. I think they were delighted to make the connection with people from Sacramento because they really don't know that much about the city. But there is no question they are thrilled about this opportunity, and the people in Israel are all excited. They told me that after Omri was drafted, people started coming to their house, leaving hundreds of bouquets of flowers on the sidewalk in front of their house. We just had a wonderful time."


Other offerings from the Rabbi
* Omri's brother, Eitan, plans to move here with Omri. (I have also heard that Ilana Casspi has been inquiring about Sacramento high schools for Aviv, who is a promising 16-year-old basketball star in her own right).
* Family members are not observant Jews in a religious sense, but Omri's parents want their son to observe the High Holy days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Sept. 18-28). "I'm sure he'll have to diplomatically make the rounds of the local synagogues," Taff added, with a chuckle.
* Asked the size of the Jewish population in Sacramento, the Rabbi said estimates are between 23,000 and 30,000. "Nobody really knows," he added. "There hasn't been a Jewish population study in 15 years."


Casspi cleared to play

Meanwhile, now that Casspi has received his letter of clearance from FIBA, basketball's international governing body, the small forward will make his unofficial Kings debut against the Detroit Pistons on Friday in the Las Vegas Summer League. From what my Bee colleague Sam Amick tells me, the rookie small forward is so geeked he'll probably turn the ball over, say, half a dozen times in the first half. imagine if he can play?

Led by unofficial tour director Rabbi Reuven "Bob" Taff, 21 members of Sacramento's Mosaic Law Congregation are en route to Israel for a 10-day trip that will include a visit with Omri Casspi's famiy at his home outside Tel Avis. Although the rookie forward is in Sacramento preparing to play for the Kings in the Las Vegas Summer League, with practices beginning Wednesday, his parents extended an invitation to the groups after learning of their plans through a mutual friend. "I have a friend over there who happens to be close with Omri's father," said Taff, "and he made the arrangements. Ilana (Casspi's mother) initially said she wanted to cook for us, but I said, 'no, no, that's too much trouble.' So we settled on light refreshments. We'll go over there after we land in Tel Aviv about 6. p.m., Tuesday. We asked everyone in our group to bring a Kings T-shirt. One family even designed their own T-shirts with a Kings logo intertwined with the star of David, and Omri's jersey number (18) in Hebrew. I also went to Arco Arena and had four shirts made - the ones they had at the rally that say, 'New Kings on the Block." We're going to present the shirts to Omri's parents (Shimon and Ilana) and his sister (Aviv) and brother (Eitan) when we get there. This is such a historic moment for the state of Israel. If Omri has an impact ... it would be incredible."

The rangy 6-foot-9 Casspi, a small forward who played for Maccabi Tel Aviv before the Kings selected him with the second of their two first-round picks (23rd overall) in the recent NBA Draft, will become the first Israeli to play in the NBA. Taff, who says the size of his bi-annual travel groups had been almost halved because of the economy, expects a sizable representation from the Jewish community at the Kings home opener. "I don't think there's any doubt about that," he added. "They take their basketball very seriously in Israel."

We'll catch up with Taff and the weary travelers after they meet with the Casspi family on Tuesday. Hopefully, we'll have some photos from the scene. Meantime, here's a quick glimpse of the Sactown adventurers. (Rabbi Taff is in the pink shirt).

photo1.jpg

Hedo Turkoglu is one of the most amiable, easy-going players you'll ever meet. He would be happy playing on Mars, Pluto or Saturn, which is why his decision to recant his verbal acceptance of a five-year, $50 million deal from the Portland Trail Blazers leads one to believe that his wife was a major factor in the about-face. ESPN's Ric Bucher is reporting that Turkoglu, who was very popular during his three seasons with the Kings, in fact reneged on his agreement with the Blazers because his wife, Banu, preferred that the couple relocate to Toronto, an international city with a sizable Turkish community. Plus, living in the East cuts the roundtrip visits back to Istanbul almost in half. While I haven't spoken to Hedo in a few weeks, when we chatted before his former Orlando Magic lost to the Lakers in the NBA Finals, he mentioned that family considerations would be a large factor in his free agency. His daughter, Ela, was born in February. I think Bucher is probably right. I feel badly for Hedo, though, because his reputation is going to take a hit for taking the Blazers for a ride. (Think Carlos Boozer). Well, at least he will be well-compensated. He is expected to earn an additional $3 million from the Raptors.


Ron Artest routinely had trouble defending Kobe Bryant during those heated Kings-Lakers meetings, especially when the Lakers superstar initiated his offense on the perimeter and utilized his quickness against his stronger, slower opponent. But based on numerous reports within the past few hours, Artest plans leave the Houston Rockets and sign a three-year deal worth approximately $18 million with his favorite L.A.team. For all the angst Artest experienced in the years preceding his free agency - remember, he was upset when the Kings refused to offer him an extension last summer - the situation couldn't have worked out any better. He will live in L.A., where he spends his offseasons anyway, and gets to play for the best team in the league. Can't imagine he has any complaints.

Interestingly, my sources in Houston are telling me that the Rockets' desire to re-sign Artest waned dramatically when it was learned that both Tracy McGrady (knee) and Yao Ming (fractured foot) will be sidelined with injuries for much of next season. Rockets officials viewed Artest as a second or third star - a complementary star to Yao and McGrady on a contender - but feared that he could become a disruptive force on a team that is rebuilding or, at the least, missing its two most dominant performers.

The fact that Artest was lobbied hard by Lamar Odom tells you that the Lakers have every intention of re-signing their versatile forward, and in essence, valued his talents over those of fellow free agent Trevor Ariza ... who is planning to sign with the Rockets.

Though he was laughing last week when he said he wanted Pete Carril to coach the Kings team in the Las Vegas Summer League, new head coach Paul Westphal was serious. "Coachie," who returns as a special assistant/consultant, will celebrate his 79th birthday on July 10 - but only after coaching the Kings in their opening game against the Detroit Pistons.
For those who follow this stuff closely, the Kings roster is pretty stacked, and includes recent draft picks Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi and Jon Brockman, along with young veterans Spencer Hawes, Jason Thomas and Donte Greene. The complete list is as follows:
Robert Battle, F, 6-8, Drexel.
Jon Brockman, F,6-7, Washington.
John Bryant, C, 6-11, Santa Clara.
Pat Calathes, G, St. Joseph's
Omri Casspi, F, 6-9, Israel.
Tyreke Evans, G, 6-6, Memphis.
Donte Greene, F, 6-11, Syracuse.
Spencer Hawes, C, 7-0, Washington.
Marcus Landry, F, 6-7, Wisconsin.
Wes Matthews, G, 6-5, Marquette.
Jerel McNeal, G, 6-3, Marquette.
Brian Roberts, G, 6-2, Dayton.
Jason Thompson, F, 6-11, Rider.
Victor Stowes, G, 6-2, Reinhard College.
Ryan Toolson, 6-4, Utah Valley.

June 29, 2009
Burrage returns


Longtime Kings assistant coach/advance scout Bubba Burrage, who was fired along with the team's other three assistants when Kenny Natt was relieved of his head coaching duties at the end of the season, has been rehired by incoming coach Paul Westphal. Burrage, who had been with the organization for 15 years, will be utilized strictly as an advance scout, according to team basketball president Geoff Petrie. He joins a staff that includes Jim Eyen, Mario Elie and Truck Robinson, and again will feature Pete Carril in the role of special assistant/consultant.

Kings coach Paul Westphal described the Kings draft "war room" - a term I detest, by the way - as a unified, cohesive place, even as Geoff Petrie, the scouts, the new assistant coaches, etc., waited to hear what the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder were going to do with their respective Nos. 2 and 3 NBA Draft picks. I heard the Kings were particularly concerned about the Grizzlies, whose owner, Michael Heisley, makes it clear every year that he makes the final decisions, and can trump the basketball people at a moment's notice. (As I frequently note, among intrusive NBA owners, the Maloofs are in the lower echelon). But this, from the new Kings coach: "It (the draft) always throws you a few curveballs. The first 15 minutes were the toughest. We were scared to death that something was going to happen that would change the scenario that allowed him (Tyreke Evans) to come to us. We sweated every second ... The final decision is always Geoff (Petrie), with a possibility the Maloofs deciding differently. That's the hierarchy. The good thing is, we were on same page ... and Geoff is really good at (sorting) through it and getting to the core part of what the decision should be.''


Not a stats freak, but still ...

As I wrote in today's editions of The Bee, I liked the selection of Tyreke Evans because he is considered such a major talent. My feeling all along has been that the Kings should draft Ricky Rubio because they desperately need a point guard and would benefit from his entertaining, flashy style - assuming his buyout situation was resolved, of course - or go with the physically gifted Evans, who is more of a combo guard. Every NBA type I've spoken with these past few days believes Evans is going to be a big-time player. Not everyone, however, is convinced he is going to be a big-time NBA point guard. Unlike Derrick Rose, Evans' predecessor at Memphis, his assist to turnover ratio gives one pause. In 29 minutes per game, the 6-foot-4 (without shoes) Evans averaged 3.9 assists and 3.6 turnovers. He attacks the rim, breaks down defenders (see his abuse of Stephen Curry in last Sunday's workout), can post up and draw double teams, and undeniably brings a physical toughness. But the best passer on this Kings roster is Spencer Hawes, the starting center, and so far, Spence is not Bill Walton or Vlade Divac. Who sets up Kevin Martin? Finds Jason Thompson and Hawes where they are most effective? The good news is, the Kings' talent level jumped appreciably. But the personnel has to fit. It will be interesting....

What of Rubio?

Watching the young point guard's face when he fall when he wasn't drafted by the Kings at No.4 was revealing. Watching his reaction when he was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves five minutes later was almost painful. He was crushed. He (and his agent, Dan Fegan) obviously wanted things to work out differently in Sacramento. That's why you have to remain skeptical when new Wolves boss David Kahn - former owner of the NBDL Reno Bighorns, by the way - says he plans on pairing Rubio and Jonny Flynn in the backcourt. Those phone lines to Mike D'Antoni's New York Knicks are probably buzzing as we speak ....


He will be missed

Word of Michael Jackson's passing cast an immense pall over Arco Arena in the hours preceding the draft. With the televisions inside the building turned to CNN, fans, journalists, Kings employees, etc., gathered around the sets, stunned by the news, eager for more information. As a New York native who spent her teen years in Las Vegas, I remember grabbing my fake I.D. and going with friends to see the Jackson 5 at the lounge shows on The Strip. How ridiculous was this? While The Osmonds were performing for megabucks in the main showrooms at places like Caesars Palace, us poor UNLV college students could walk into the lounge shows (free of charge), sip a single watered-down drink for about $2, and spend hours being dazzled by Michael and his brothers. Sad, tragic ending for an incredible entertainer ...

After spending the last pre-draft evening chatting with sources about Thursday evening's annual festivities, I was reminded that some things never change. Everyone lies. Coaches. Scouts. Agents. Team executives. It's never personal, though, and as one GM said earlier today, "Why would you want anyone out there to know what you really think about a player you might want to draft?"
With that in mind, here are a few final thoughts:
- The Kings desperately need a willing passer, floor leader, entertainer and charismatic personality. I have a suspicion that Ricky Rubio will be gone when they pick at No.4, but if the Spanish point guard is on the board, please, take him. The Kings are going to struggle the next two seasons, anyway, but at least with Rubio, who is a much more creative passer than Jonny Flynn, Tyreke Evans or Stephen Curry, they would be fun to watch.
- Historically, undersized or smallish point guard guards who don't shoot well (Flynn) don't fare well in the NBA. John Stockton, Mark Price and Steve Nash share two characteristics: All are/were superb shooters and exceptional passers/playmakers. When I look at Flynn, why do I think of ... Darnell Valentine? Flynn is much quicker, of course, and not as thick. But I tend to side with those who are trepidatious about undersized point guards who don't shoot well and aren't particularly gifted passers/playmakers.
- Evans' potential upside notwithstanding, do the Kings really want another 6-foot-5 swingman? Exactly how many more dents before the hardwood has to replaced? (See Ron Artest, John Salmons, an ailing Chris Webber, etc.). Word is, though, that the Memphis star is going to be a terrific scorer in this league. Some project him as the second best player (to Blake Griffin) in the draft.
- The Memphis Grizzlies, who select No.2, were set on Hasheem Thabeet before owner Michael Heisley flew into town Wednesday and reminded team execs that he will be the one deciding which player is chosen. Heisley is a wildcard here.
- Oklahoma City GM Sam Presti is keeping everyone guessing, even more than usual. The obvious choice for the Thunder, selecting just ahead of the Kings at No.3, is shooting guard James Harden. But no one around the league is even willing to venture a guess at what the secretive Presti is thinking or what he plans to do. It wouldn't be a shock, say, if Rubio is snagged with this pick.
- Speaking of owners. The Maloofs enter the mix Thursday morning. Wonder what they're thinking? I'm sure we'll find out.
- And let's not forget trades. After Griffin, this could be an unusually fluid draft.

Party time at Arco

So, okay, it's not exactly the NBA Playoffs, but fans are invited to attend the draft proceedings and watch the event on the overhead screens - free of charge - at Arco Arena. The doors open at 3:30, with the proceedings getting underway at 4.


This is what he does

It's easy to criticize some of Geoff Petrie's more recent free agent signings, specifically, his tendency to overpay role players, but his draft record is outstanding. He missed on Quincy Douby - bypassing Rajon Rondo, as did a lot of others - but that's the exception.


I will be curious to hear the extent of Ricky Rubio's recent workout at the Kings practice facility, especially after former NBA sharpshooter Dell Curry criticized the one-on-one format that his son, Stephen, participated in on Sunday. The younger Curry - competing against guards, including the physically imposing Tyreke Evans - felt that the session marginalized his playmaking and point guard skills, basically was little more than a one-on-one drill, with players trying to take each other off the dribble at the top of the key. Curry said his son had hoped to display his playmaking and shotmaking skills in transition opportunities, but often found himself stuck in the corners, shooting jumpers.

Details of the Rubio session should be interesting. Tthe Spanish guard is a floor leader, distributor and penetrator who utilizes his size and ranginess for steals and deflections in the passing lanes. He is a pass-first point maker - a true point guard in every sense of the word. The issue will be whether Geoff Petrie and Paul Westphal believe their can improve his offensive skills. One suggests that - given his age (18) - all things are possible, and his upside is too special to ignore. One Kings offiicials openly referred to the 6-foot-5, long-limbed Rubio as a "prodigy."

One last word on Sunday's workout

While Evans size (6-foot-7) and physique remind me of a younger LeBron James, he seems more like a two-three than a point guard. His turnovers are a concern, and from what we were able to observe during a 20-minute sesson, he didn't strike me as the type of player who makes teammates better. He wants the ball in his hands, wiith the intent on breaking down his man one-on-one. Just asking: But haven't the Kings seen enough of that these last few years with Ron Artest and John Salmons? Geoff Petrie, it must be noted again, is not enamored of the one-on-one game, which leads me to believe he is higher on Rubio than he is letting on. The tight-lipped Petrie guards his inner thoughts well, especially this time of the year. Don't be surprised if he draft the prodigy at point guard (Rubio) and starts filling other holes.

June 21, 2009
Westphal completes staff


I don't have the details regarding salaries, but a league source just confirmed that Kings coach Paul Westphal has hired assistants Jim Eyen, Mario Elie and Truck Robinson. Eyen, an NBA assistant for 17 years, was a recent victim of the Los Angeles Clippers' budget cuts. Elie and Robinson are former players. Elie, who interviewed for the Kings head coaching vacancy three offseasons ago, was a physical, tough-minded guard who was lethal from the corners. Robinson was a two-time All-Star and one of the league's most physical power forwards during the 1970s and 80s. During the 1977-78 season, he led the NBA in minutes, defensive rebounds, total rebounds and rebound average (15.7). Westphal apparently is addressing the two areas he emphasized while interviewing for the job: defending the perimeter and controlling the boards.

June 20, 2009
Turning to the videotape

The economic crunch continues to take its chunk out of NBA staffs. One Eastern Conference executive earlier tonight told me that he knows of nine assistants whose jobs effectively will be eliminated on July 1. The biggest cutback seems to be affecting advance scouts, or those men whose jobs consist of non-stop traveling and preparing reports for their respective teams' upcoming opponents. If the trend continues, how will coaches prepare their players for the next opponent? Retro it is. Teams will probably spend more time watching video and breaking down their foes' tendencies off tape, a la the old days, rather than relying on an advance scout's up close and personal report


The Big Game

The upcoming week is my favorite time of the year, for a few reasons. It's always fun to try to determine which scout/agent/general manager is telling the biggest whopper as the NBA Draft approaches, and it's almost as much fun trying to figure out which of these people actually know what they're doing. Most don't. The draft is a ridiculously inexact experience, but some franchises historically are more organized, detail-oriented and therefore better prepared before making their selections, those players from both here and abroad. For example: San Antonio's Gregg Popovich could probably tell you what Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the year leading up to their selection by the Spurs. I'd love to swap frequent flyer miles with Popovich and R.C. Buford, as well.


So what to believe?


Nothing. These next few days will be all about misdirection plays, and no one should be fooled by who is meeting with whom, or who is (or is not) working on where (with few exceptions). This particular draft is more intriguing than usual, mainly because except for Blake Griffin's selection by the Clips at No.1, there is universal disagreement on the ensuing Lottery picks. From what I am hearing, the Kings are among the many teams whose scouts and personnel experts are all over the place - say, five votes going for five different players. Ultimately, Geoff Petire makes the decision, and his draft record is excellent. All of which makes me wonder whether the front office's disagreement about Ricky Rubio's value means anything. In other words, I find it hard to believe that a team president who appreciated the entertainment value of drafting Jason Williams isn't secretly enamored of the 6-foot-5 Spanish star.


Today's best picks

The practice facility will be buzzing this morning. Even without Rubio, the cast of auditioners is impressive, led by Jonny Flynn, Stephen Curry and Tyreke Evans.

Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio flew back to Los Angeles a little while ago after remaining too ill to work out for the Kings Thursday morning. Team officials said Rubio still has a fever and is being treated with antibiotics. The youngster's immediate plans are unclear, though there is a strong sense that he will visit the Oklahoma City Thunder, which holds the No.3 pick - just ahead of the Kings. A return visit to Sacramento before next Thursday's draft day proceedings in New York is also being discussed. Members of the Kings front office met briefly with Rubio at the Embassy Suites hotel earlier in the day, and among other things, thanked him for the visit.

June 17, 2009
Rubio too sick to play

Kings draft prospect Ricky Rubio, who was supposed to participate in a light workout at the practice facility early Wednesday afternoon, became ill and returned to the downtown hotel where he and his mother, Tona, are staying. Sources say the 18-year-old Spanish star had a 101-degree temperature and was prescribed antibiotics by the Kings team physician. Team officials were holding out hope that Rubio would fee well enough to work out Thursday a.m., because he officially has to end his visit after 48 hours, or about midafternoon. It was unclear whether Rubio planned to visit NBA franchises in Memphis or Oklahoma City, the two clubs that hold NBA Draft picks Nos. 2 and 3. He also could return to Sacramento later in the week.


Among the other things I have been hearing throughout the day - the Knicks interest in trading for the No.2 pick to swipe Rubio said to be legitimate - are a few red-not nuggets from former Italian league coach and Milan-based television analyst Dan Peterson. The former Delaware head coach, it appears, is not a fan of Brandon Jennings. During our conversation Wednesday afternoon, Peterson ripped into Jennings, who last week suggested to The Bee that Rubio was little more than a You Tube sensation.
"Ricky Rubio is not overhyped," said Peterson, who broadcast several of Jennings' games last season for Lottomatica Virtus Roma. "Jennings is overhyped. He has it all backwards. He is all about trying to dominate one-on-one, all concerned with individual talent. I find it hilarious."
Peterson went on to say that he liked Jennings' quickness and talent, but didn't think he was NBA-ready. Rubio, he says, is NBA ready. "One of the things that happens in the NBA, everybody has a theory on what a guy can't do. That's all you hear. Sacramento would be very lucky to get Ricky Rubio. It would be a good place for (Rubio), the capital city of California, not too big. He is just a terrific player, though he needs to improve his three-point shooting. He gets into the lane, draws fouls, has the whole package. People would love him there. He's a winner. I would throw myself in front of a bus for Ricky Rubio. But I would have a hard time having Brandon Jennings on my team. I would send him home."
Ouch. Jennings DID apologize to Rubio, by the way.
Boys, boys, boys ...


Why Peterson's words matter

When trolling for information before the NBA Draft, and relying on international sources as well as NBA types for insights, I tend to avoid the couch potato/stats geeks and consult with the coaches/scouts/sources who actually observe prospects during live games and practices. Thus, Peterson is an invaluable resource. Additionally, he has a rich history with the NBA and its international expansion. As I might have mentioned before, my introduction to Peterson occurred when David Stern trotted him out to a press conference in the old Boston Garden during the Celtics-Rockets NBA Finals. The two gentlemen sat on the dais, talking about some player named "Drazen Petrovic" who would someday be an NBA star, and insisting that several other international players had the talent and desire to play in the league. As I reminded Peterson on Wednesday - and recalling that the Boston Globe's Bob Ryan was seated alongside - I rolled my eyes, shook my head, and complained about wasting my time at a pregame press conference, when I could have been in the Celtics locker room listening to the latest witty offerings from Bird, McHale, Parish, D.J., etc. So, hey, how dumb was I? Three years later, the walls came down, Petrovic, Vlade Divac, Zarko Paspalj, Sarunas Marciulionis and Sasha Volkov signed NBA contracts, and the rest, as they say, was history. I will say it again. How dumb was I? Really, really, really dumb ...


A final thought on Rubio and Barcelona ....

While waiting to interview Rubio Tuesday evening, we were chatting about his hometown Barcelona. I recalled covering the original Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics - Rubio was barely two years old at the time - and asked whether the Las Ramblas, the grand downtown boulevard, ever recovered from Charles Barkley's nightly strolls. Charles was huge - that was his coming out party, as an NBA and international star. The sight of the Round One, dressed in his finest matching Bermuda shorts and shirts, walking along the avenue, followed by hundreds of admirers, remains inforgettable. Rubio laughed and acknowledged that he had heard the stories. His NBA mentors, of course, are considerably younger. He's a big Chris Paul fan ...


This just in ...

One week before the 2009 NBA Draft, here's the latest news flash: The Kings need to land Rubio. If they have to trade up, so be it. Given the state of the franchise - lousy attendance, lack of interest, bad economy, community's craving to love its Kings again - finding a way to sign the gifted Spanish point guard is an absolute no-brainer.

This was a crazy, interesting day in Sacramento, mainly because we at The Bee didn't learn details about Ricky Rubio's scheduled visit until midafternoon. By then, I had spent 75 minutes with new Kings coach Paul Westphal at a restaurant near Arco Arena, zipped back to the newspaper and written my column for Wednesday's editions, then hurried to a downtown hotel with colleague Sam Amick and photographer Hector Amezcua for our conversation with the Spanish point guard.

Let's just say, there was a buzz around town the minute this kid landed. Whether or not his legal issues are resolved, the Kings actually draft him, or he is the player the Kings SHOULD actually draft, will be addressed in my column in Thursday's editions. But based on first impressions, here are a few thoughts:

- The charisma thing. He definitely has it. The Barcelona native walks into a hotel lobby, and people immediately notice. He also is quite personable, not pre-programmed and packaged like so many boring professional athletes.

- The Kings. Though not totally familiar with the rosters of the teams that might draft him, Rubio had perused the rosters, and interestingly, paid close attention to the birth dates. He wants to join a franchise with young players he can mature and develop with, which makes the Kings an obvious target of his affection.

- The body. Having only watched Rubio on television, most closely during last summer's Olympics, I was surprised by his physique. Dressed in a black T-shirt, shorts and sneakers, he appeared taller than his listed height - close to 6-foot-5. He also had better definition, particularly in his upper arms. He wasn't the skinny young thing he looks like on the tube.

- The idol. His favorite NBA point guard is Chris Paul, though he remembers hearing about Magic Johnson's performance in his hometown during the 1992 Games.

Absolutely, check this out (click below to continue)

I'm off for a week's vacation, but wanted to offer some final thoughts about Randy Smith, the former NBA star who died of an apparent heart attack while working out on a treadmill. Smith, who was only 60 years old, is the latest of three former Clippers to die prematurely - all of whom happened to have the same last name. This is particularly weird for me, because I covered all three during my first few years as an NBA beat writer. Derek Smith (35), Phil Smith (50) and now Randy Smith (60) died of different causes, but much too young.

Smith, who was later traded to the Kings in the deal for MIke Woodson and Larry Drew, died of cardiac arrest in 1992 after suffering a reaction to anti-nausea medicine while on a cruise for the Washington Wizards. At the time, he was an assistant coach for Jimmy Lynam, who gave him his start in the NBA with the 1983-84 San Diego Clips. Phil Smith, who is best known throughout the Bay Area as the former USF and Golden State Warriors star, died of cancer in 2002 at age 50. He played for the Clips in 1980-82, but after suffering a ruptured Achilles, was never the same player. I remember Phil showing up at practice one day with his twin toddlers, Phil and Martin, and when he saw me sitting in the gym watching practice, sheepishly asked if I would babysit. He placed his sons on my lap and went about his business. It was hilarious ....

Randy Smith moved west with the Clips in 1978, was re-signed by the team in 1981-82, which happened to be my first year covering the league. He was a great guy on a team filled with wonderfully rich, entertaining characters, among them Bill Walton, Jerome Whitehead, Tom Chambers, Jim Brogan,Terry Cummings, Brian Taylor, Lionel Hollins, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, and Michael Brooks. The only downer was the owner - Donald Sterling - who became notorious for failing to pay the team's hotel and restaurant bills, stripping team employees of their insurance, and trying to force the squad to travel coach instead of first class - a violation of the collective bargaining agreement for all flights exceeding two hours.One night, after a flight landed in Seattle - and keep in mind that teams traveled commercial back then, usually with beat writers on the same flight - Kobe's Dad pulled me aside and told me he had a story for me. I immediately called the late Larry Fleisher, who was head of the Players Union, and Sterling was busted!

Randy was just a sweetheart, though, and a wonderful influence on youngsters Cummings and Chambers. Same for Taylor, who played for Pete Carril at Princeton. I saw Randy on occasion in later years, mostly when he was working for the league. I wonder if he was working at the Mohegan Sun casino when the Monarchs played the Connecticut Sun during the 2005 WNBA Finals? I surely would have looked him up. You never forget the people who are so kind and professional, especially when your career is just starting.


Still confused by this one ...

Nothing against Kings coaching candidates Kurt Rambis, Paul Westphal and Tom Thibodeau, but Mike Fratello continues to reach out to team officials, and can't even get an interview? I understand Geoff Petrie's desire to hire someone whose personality meshes with his own introverted nature, but this is ridiculous. In terms of credentials and accomplishments - not to mention , it's not even close. At the very least, Joe and Gavin Maloof should insist that Fratello be granted an interview. Then, talk personalities, styles and contract.


This has nothing to do with the Kings, but ....

While Fratello was guiding the young Atlanta Hawks of Dominique Wilkins, Doc Rivers, Spud Webb, Randy Wittman, a young lefthander named Tom Glavine was the lone bright spot on a lousy Braves team that played to 2,000 or so fans nightly. Glavine endured the bad times and in the 1990s went on to become one of the most popular and successful sports figures in the city's history. He was MVP of the 1995 World Series - he pitched a classic series-clincher against the Cleveland Indians after Greg Maddux had been roughed up in Jacob's Field. Beyond all that, he represented everything organizations claim to want in their players. He was a class act, an incredible competitor, and deserved to be treated better than being waived Friday in a blatant salary dump. Braves president John Schuerholz had a sleepless night? Yeah, well, guess he won't be invited when Glavine is inducted into the Hall of Fame ....


One of the more interesting tidbits of information coming out of the pre-draft workouts the last two days in Oakland is word that the agent for Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio is suddenly amenable to participating in interviews and individuals workouts with a select number of teams - the Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder and Kings. Sources told me that, at this point, Rubio's agent, Dan Fegan, is limiting the visits to the teams with draft picks 2-4. Given the fact that Jrue Holiday and Jonny Flynn are moving up on most mock draft boards, this makes sense. Plus, Rubio didn't play particularly well in his season finale. Holiday is expected to return to Sacramento for a second workout, Tyreke Evans is scheduled to work out here next week, and Flynn shortly thereafter. Since the Kings have been unusually accommodating to the media this year - in the past, the team refused to reveal which prospects were working out, and allowed no media access to the workouts - this should be a very interesting few weeks.

The list of candidates for the Kings head coaching vacancy apparently just got shorter. ESPN.com is reporting that former Washington Wizards and Kings coach Eddie Jordan has been offered the same position with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bee's Sam Amick has confirmed the offer and been told by sources that Jordan will accept.

Meantime, Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie still plans to meet with assistants Tom Thibodeau and Kurt Rambis.

May 26, 2009
Hedo on a roll ...

Hedo.jpg
John Raoux/AP

I wrote a column for Wednesday's Bee after speaking with former King Hedo Turkoglu, but he was so gracious with his time Monday afternoon, I wanted to add a few other notes. (And in case anyone missed it, his Orlando Magic defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime earlier tonight to take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals). Hedo played well, finishing with eight assists, seven rebounds, and 15 points, though he was only 5-of-13. His greatest asset remains his versatility, and his abilities as a 6-foot-10 playmaker. Jameer Nelson's season-ending injury prompted Magic coach Stan Van Gundy to demand even more of Turkoglu, a self-proclaimed slow developer. And, of course, all-around good guy and one of the most popular former Kings.

During our 45-minute conversation Monday, Hedo said he hoped Geoff Petrie was able to make significant offseason moves, maybe adding an exciting draft selection, to bring the buzz back to Arco. "The fans there are not asking for much," he said. "When we play there, I always get a standing ovation. My teammates turn to me and say, 'What did you do for these people?' I was only in Sacramento three years, but we had a great journey."

He also reminded me that current Kings assistant general manager Jason Levien - who was his agent/attorney at the time - extricated him from his contract with Efes Pilsen, the team he played for in his native Turkey. "I had to pay $1.5 million to get out of the contract," said Hedo, "and he was the guy. Then we started our journey."

Turkoglu, 30, can opt out of his contract with the Magic this summer, but he doesn't sound inclined to go anywhere. He enjoyed an excellent season, though his scoring dipped to 17 points and his field-goal percentage dropped to 41 percent. He described his team as "a bunch of young guys who don't have a lot of playoff experience, but who play hard. We don't have experienced players like CWebb and Vlade Divac. That team had incredible chemistry. But I was just a role player there. I have to be honest. I wanted to play more. Same thing in San Antonio. Here, what we are doing means more because Stan (Van Gundy) wants me to play the way I always want, with the ball in my hands. We just have to keep playing hard and see what happens. It's funny. Everyone back home is getting up at 3 o'clock in the morning to watch. They love what we're doing."

Ben Howland probably expects the worst anyway, but when contacted Thursday afternoon and asked about his point guard, Jrue Holiday, who earlier in the day had worked out for the Kings, the UCLA coach was caught by surprise. And he didn't sound very excited. While Holiday cited Howland among those advising him about whether to stay in the 2009 NBA Draft or return to college for his sophomore season, Howland knew the one-time prep sensation had spent the previous few days in Florida, but said he had no clue about any audition with the Kings. Holiday, who is moving up on draft boards, is expected to work out in Phoenix early next week. Howland went on to to speak glowingly of his freshman, both as a player and an individual. But, no, he won't be stunned if his talented playmaker turns pro. "Jrue and his family will look at everything and make the right decision," said the coach, adding that "both his parents are coaches."

Ricky Rubio Can Just Say "No"

I am continuing to hear confirmation of the news - first reported by DraftExpress - that Ricky Rubio has no interest in playing for Memphis or Oklahoma, the teams that will draft at Nos. 2 and 3, and that his agent, Dan Fegan, is trying to position the Spanish point guard in Los Angeles (1) or Sacramento (4). This could get very interesting. While there have been numerous examples of players discouraging teams from drafting them or forcing trades (Kobe Bryant, John Elway, Kiki Vandeweghe and Eli Manning, among others), Rubio has unusual leverage because he has to buy out the final two years of his contract with DKV Joventut before he can play in the league. The NBA team wanting to draft him can only contribute $500,000 toward the buyout, which means the youngster has to produce an amount estimated at $7-$10 millon, depending on the exchange rate.

Not that the Kings are strangers to extricating their first-round draft choices from sticky situations, by the way. The club's attorneys helped Peja Stojakovic and Hedo Turkoglu gain their releases from their respective teams in Greece and Turkey.


A Final Word on the Kenyon Martin/Joe Maloof Spat


Watching the Denver Nuggets' victory over the Lakers earlier tonight reminded me that I have neglected to mention that Joe Maloof and Kenyon Martin are buddies again. Or, at least, that they're no longer publicly spewing venom toward one another. For those who might have forgotten, Martin tagged Spencer Hawes with a nasty forearm to the chest during the Kings-Nuggets game during the final week of the season. Hawes crumpled to the floor, grabbed the knee that already has been subjected to arthroscopies and microfracture surgery, in serious discomfort. He flew home the following day for tests, but before results of the MRI were revealed - nothing broken, nothing torn - the Kings' co-owner blasted Martin, calling his act "thuggery" and urging the NBA to take stronger measures against players who commit hard fouls on opponents who are airborne. Martin ripped right back, saying among other things, that he had no intention of apologizing to the Kings or their owners, and that Joe Maloof should be more concerned with his 17-win team.

"What I didn't know," Maloof said the other day, "until I talked to Spencer later, was that Kenyon apologized to him after the game. I had no idea. When I popped off ... I was just worried, and I reacted. And Kenyon was right. I do (laugh) have more important things to worry about."

Before Mark Cuban got into his own tiff with the rugged Nuggets forward during the Denver-Dallas playoff series - that thug word again - Maloof said he had Kings publicist Troy Hansen relay his apology via the Nuggets. "I want to personally apologize," said Maloof, "and we're planning to talk after the playoffs. I don't want to be a distraction." And you just know Maloof was delighted with Martin's crucial late-game contributions in Game 2 against the Lakers ....

BLOG UPDATE: The Kings announced the prospects who will be joining Jrue Holiday in Thursday's workout. Beyond the UCLA point guard, it will be guards Aaron Jackson (Duquesne), Josh Akognon (Cal State Fullerton), Brandon Ewing (Wyoming), forward Tremaine Townsend (Cal State Northridge), and center John Bryant (Santa Clara).

Now that the Kings know their draft position in the lottery, where they will be selecting the No.4 pick (along with picks No.23 and 31), the emphasis within organization switches to the ongoing coaching search and the individual workouts. As Sam Amick revealed last night, interviews with assistants Kurt Rambis and Tom Thibodeau are expected, though it's unlikely Geoff Petrie will meet with Rambis until the Lakers are between series' or out of the playoffs.

But potential draft prospects already are coming to town. UCLA guard Jrue Holiday will be the first of possibly 30 or 40 players to audition at the Kings' practice facility, when he arrives for his noon workout on Thursday. The sessions will include running, shooting drills and three-on-three sessions, with Petrie directing the action as usual. (The other five participants are considered longshots to make the league, though most cling to their dream). Also, in contrast to seasons past, Petrie is allowing members of the media to watch the three-on-three sessions and talk to the players afterward.

What we already know about Holiday is this: He holds some intrigue, though probably not at No.4. If the Kings like what they see, they might try to move back a few spots to grab him. The 6-foot-4 Holiday struggled in the backcourt with Darren Collison in his only college season, partly, he claims, because he is more comfortable as a primary ballhandler than shooting guard. None of his statistics are overwhelming. But he was a highly regarded prep star known as an excellent finisher at the basket with good defensive instincts, and a shaky outside shot.

Having throughly enjoyed the memorable seventh game of the Kings-Lakers conference finals in 2002, I am totally engrossed in this seven-game series between the heavily favored Lakers and the injury-depleted Houston Rockets. Even without the injured Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming and (reitired) Dikembe Mutombo, the Rockets have a lot to offer. Daryl Morey has done an exceptional job manipulating the salary cap and assembling a deep, talented roster. Equally important, the pieces fit. The point guard (Aaron Brooks) breaks down defenses. Ron Artest and Shane Battier are lockdown defenders and opportunistic scorers. Luis Scola is a physical, if undersized low post performer. And Carl Landry and Kyle Lowry are solid, important contributors off the bench.

But it only works because Rick Adelman is coaching this team like he doesn't give a hoot what his boss says or whether he returns next season. He isn't catering to an ailing superstar (think Chris Webber and Tracy McGrady), worrying about playing popular rookie Jason Williams when Vernon Maxwell or Tariq Abdul-Wahad should have been on the floor for the final defensive possession against the Utah Jazz (Game 4, 1999), or sticking with the struggling Doug Christie and Peja Stojakovic in Game 7 vs; the Lakers in 2002 when Scot Pollard and Bobby Jackson were the only Kings who weren't swallowed by the moment.

Frankly, it's fascinating to watch the hyper sensitive Adelman coaching to his players' strengths (defense) and not fretting about what his general manager or his owners or the media thinks, or worrying about playing this player or that player because they make more money than someone else. As they say, coaches evolve. I wouldn't be shocked if the Rockets upset the Lakers Sunday in Staples Center. Adelman is overdue. And Phil Jackson seems far from enamored of his club - for all its talent. I can't remember ever hearing him sound so accepting of so many lopsided losses. Maybe he's just tired ...

Jumping at the chance

Increasingly, it sounds as if Eddie Jordan would take the Philadelphia 76ers head coaching job if offered, which would eliminate him from the Kings' situation. The reasoning is pretty obvious. Sixers GM Ed Stefanski has more security than Geoff Petrie, the Comcast-owned club figures to be more generous with its offer than the small-market Kings, and the Sixers roster has better talent. Nonetheless, my sources in Philadelphia are telling me that Jordan would be a tough sell in the famously demanding market. The Sixers historically labor to fill the building - there were plenty of seats even during those classic Bird-Erving playoffs in the 1980s - and they trail the Eagles, Phillies and Flyers in popularity. There is a lingering suspicion among media types, in fact, that Stefanski, who has been friendly with Jordan since their time with the New Jersey Nets, might be pressed to pursue a higher profile coach such as Jeff Van Gundy (supposedly interested) or Doug Collins (definitely interested)..

Petrie is in Europe for the next few days, scouting Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio, so no movement is expected on the Kings coaching situation until he returns late Tuesday. But it could get interesting, particularly if the Kings win one of the first two picks Tuesday in the annual Draft Lottery. The job suddenly would become more appealing, and perhaps convince Petrie and the Maloofs to expand their search beyond Jordan and Paul Westphal.

While watching television clips from Chuck Daly's funeral earlier today, and later, speaking with a few people who attended the memorial services in Jupiter, Fla., I was reminded of how skillfully Chuck dealt with the huge egos and personalities on the Detroit Pistons' championship teams (1989-90), as well as being the perfect choice to coach the original Dream Team in 1992. A college coach before becoming an NBA assistant and getting his first head coaching job with Ted Stepien's hapless Cleveland Cavaliers, Daly had a terrific temperament, and never sweat the small stuff. He was one of those coaches who clearly enjoy the attention that comes with the job. I'll never forget how graciously he dealt with the international media during the Dream Team's summer tour (La Jolla, Portland, Monte Carlo, Barcelona), and how he went to great lengths to accommodate journalists whose English language skills were lacking. He was unfailingly patient, helpful, and good-humored. I'll miss calling and pestering him for his insights.
The last time we spoke, incidentally, he said he couldn't understand why Laimbeer - whom he called "Billy" - wasn't coaching in the NBA. As he described his former center as intelligent, strong-willed, and not nearly as nasty as his image, Daly's voice became louder and louder. He was clearly ticked. He finished by saying that some club should take a chance on Laimbeer because "they'll get themselves one helluva coach."
Okay, so I wasn't going to say that the Kings should give Laimbeer a call if they intend to expand their list of coaching candidates beyond Eddie Jordan and Paul Westphal, but I changed my mind. Laimbeer has won three WNBA titles in his six seasons with the Detroit Shock, owns an impressive NBA pedigree, has a toughness and swagger about him, so, no, I don't understand it, either.


Speaking of swagger, defense, dynamic ....

When I filled in for Kings beat writer Sam Amick on the Kings final road trip to Denver, I asked Nuggets coach George Karl what prompted his change in philosophy. Or, I should say, what prompted his return to his old philosophy. Until the past few years, he was a disciple of the Larry Brown/Gregg Popovich school that stresses defense over offense. So, here is his explanation, which was offered weeks before his Nuggets eliminated the Dallas Mavericks and advanced to their first conference finals since 1985: "Two years ago, we decided to teach the game from the offensive end of the court, which I've never done before. But the (Mike) D'Antoni success, the Doug Moe philosophy ... so we threw it all out there. It's sort of like teaching the triangle or the Princeton offense. Offense comes first. Your practices are offense, spacing, timing. And I've never coached that way. We did it. We had some success. But last year, when it was all over (first round playoff exit), Grg (assistant Tim Grgurich) and I went in my office, and he said, 'we can't do this (bleep) any more.' And I said, 'you're right.' And so, much of it is me being comfortable again. And we started at training camp, with the culture, everything being defensive drills, defensive stations. The practice evolved, and. I would say for the first two months, we had 20-30 minutes of stations, thinking that pro guys would rebel from it, but saying this is what we were going to do. We went further with it, a lot further than I had ever done before. It kind of rubbed off a little bit. Plus, we have really good defensive guys. Chauncey (Billups) coming in this year, he believes in that ..."

Goodbye to Koz

Can't log off without wishing the best for Jim Kozimor, the longtime Kings/Monarchs broadcaster who was among the club's employees laid off earlier this week because of budget cuts. I was particularly appreciative of his passion and professionalism regarding the Monarchs. Hopefully he isn't out of work for long.

April 27, 2009
What about Byron Scott?



In these horrific economic times, it's pretty much a given that the fates of Lawrence Frank (New Jersey) and Jay Triano (Toronto), among others, are influenced by their respective teams' financial bottom lines. But the New Orleans Hornets' mortifying loss to the Denver Nuggets earlier tonight also left me wondering about Byron Scott. The former Kings assistant has a year remaining on his contract, and at huge dollars, I am told. But Tuesday's record-tying 121-63 defeat is the type of performance that infuriates owners, send fans running for the exits, and has coaches nervously calling their agents within hours. Plus, there are offsets. One team fires a coach, the next team pays X amount, thus offsetting the former team's obligation.

If Scott were to become available, would Geoff Petrie consider him? This could be interesting. Byron always says he eventually wants to coach two teams: the Lakers, where he began his playing career and won two titles, and the Kings, where he was an assistant under Rick Adelman for two seasons (1998 to 2000). He and wife Anita loved living here, and immersed themselves within the community. Plus, Petrie said he was interested in a few coaches who might be available at some point during or after the postseason.

Nothing appears imminent, so who knows? Geoff Petrie is off on a scouting trip to Europe, and his staffers are said to be compiling a lengthy early list of potential coaching candidates. But the favorites have be ex-Kings (and Washington Wizards) coach Eddie Jordan and Paul Westphal, the former head coach of the Seattle Sonics and the Phoenix Suns. Think Petrie. Think offense. But that doesn't mean Scott isn't intriguing. The one-time Laker has several friends and admirers within the organization.

Shaken up all that Jazz

Watching the Utah Jazz lose its unimpressive opening round series to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier tonight, I find it hard to believe Jerry Sloan will not return as head coach. Besides the fact that he committed to coaching next season while late Jazz owner Larry Miller was still alive - I suspect out of loyalty to his longtime friend and employer - Sloan is just too competitive to end his coaching career in this fashion: ejected, and in the locker room. His team uncharacteristically passive and non-combative. His team having undergone a late-season funk that resulted in the fatal first-round matchup against the top-seeded Lakers. His team ... no longer resembling his team.


I'm not a shrink, but consider that, within a matter of weeks, Sloan recently endured the deaths of his owner (Miller) to complications from diabetes, former Chicago Bulls teammates Johnny Kerr and Norm Van Lier, and most recently, the brother, Buck, who essentially raised him. This is one of those times when Sloan really needs to take a few weeks off before making any decision about his future. Can't imagine the Jazz without him, though.


Other playoff musings ...

* Watching Hedo Turkoglu stroke the game-winning three-pointer Monday night against the Philadelphia 76ers, I was struck by two things. First, if Hedo had converted perimeter shots during his brief stay in San Antonio, Gregg Popovich would have found a way to re-sign him. Second, two Kings types long ago insisted the late-developing Hedo would be a much better all-around player than Peja Stojakovic: Geoff Petrie and Chris Webber.
* Dahntay Jones can start for the Denver Nuggets, but couldn't play for the Kings? Again, this is another hint that a philosophical adjustment is needed. Offense is important. Defense is absolutely necessary. Loose balls. Long rebounds. Contesting shots. You know, the things that win championships.
* Very classy act by Kobe Bryant after the Jazz-Lakers finale. The Lakers superstar shook hands with his opponents, then walked directly to the Jazz broadcast booth and spoke briefly with radio analyst Hot Rod Hundley, who is retiring after basically spending his entire life with the franchise. The native West Virginian accompanied the club when it relocated from New Orleans to Salt Lake City in 1979, and is one of the league's good people ... if one of its biggest homers. With Hot Rod at the microphone or in front of the camera, the Jazz never committed a foul or lost a game.
* Add Ronnie Price to the list of former Kings who have contributed in the playoffs. His eight-minute, second-half stretch finally ignited the Jazz, and as the always candid Sloan allowed later, should lead to more playing time next season.
* Peja is looking more and more like one of those NBA players in the midst of a swift and dramatic physical decline. When the Hornets visited Sacramento late in the season, he admitted his back remains problematic. He missed most of last season following back surgery, and said he continues to experience discomfort. Not good for someone who is only 32 years old ...

What is it about 7-footers in this league? There's more to them, so they have more to give? Anyway, Dikembe Mutombo, who was preparing information to send me about his latest humanitarian campaign, tore up his knee Tuesday night in the Houston-Portland series and announced his retirement a hours later. As he says, it was time. He is the NBA's oldest player at 42. He has a young family. And he has grand plans the $29 million, 300-bed hospital he constructed two years ago in his native Congo. Mutombo - who was known as Deke throughout his 18-year career - provided $19 million of his own earnings to complete the facility. He also only half-jokingly told me that he squeezed several thousands ouf of NBA Commissioner David Stern whenever funds ran low. "My good friend David always comes through," Mutombo said, laughing, in his booming voice. The feelings were reciprocated. When speaking about retired Kings center (and fellow humanitarian) Vlade Divac a few weeks ago, the Commissioner quipped, "Divac was Mutombo before Mutombo."

Since I'm sure Deke will be more than a little preoccupied these next several weeks about his knee (rest? surgery?), I decided to offer some of the information he was able to provide when the Rockets' visited Sacramento the last week of the season: His new campaign is a grassroots effort to lure 100,000 viewers to his web site (www.DMF.org or call 1-877-funddmf.) and obtain donations from each of $20 or more per year. The funds will be used to operate the hospital, pay the doctors and nurses, and provide medicine and treatment, mostly for women and children. While chatting in the visitors locker room here during that last visit, Deke admitted that he was "shocked" at the high cost of operating the facility in Kinshasa, and mentioned his fears about malaria outbreaks and an ongoing crisis with HIV. "I am going to keep working on this," he said, "but I'm going to need a lot of help from all the people I have known all these years."

Once again, that website address is www.DMF.org.


THE FINGER WAG WILL BE MISSED

Mutombo, who had a booming, hearty laugh and a wicked sense of humor, was a delightful presence, as well as a formidable, if occasionally confounding competitor. The stories about his sharp, swinging elbows inflicting pain and suffering, occasionally dislodging an opponent's teeth, are all true. Several players and coaches argued that the bony 7-foot-2 center should be required to wear elbow pads, though to no avail. But the league eventually placed some restriction on Mutombo's habit of blocking a shot, then shaking his head and wagging his right index finger at his victim. Taunting, they called it. Mutombo was told to direct his finger wagging elsewhere, say, toward the fans. But for some, including his former Atlanta Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens, that wasn't enough. Lenny hated it when Mutombo would wag the finger and stand under the basket, while play continued. Finally, the two compromised: Deke could wag the finger and shake his head, but only if doing so while running downcourt.


Kings (16-62) at Nuggets (53-27)
Scoring: Kings 12th (100.7 point per game), Nuggets 6th (104.51)
Shooting: Kings 25th (44.7 percent), Nuggets 5th, (47.2)
Scoring defense: Kings 29th (109.5 points), Nuggets 19th (100.91)
Shooting defense: Kings 30th (48.4 percent), Nuggets 4th (43.9)
Rebound differential: Kings 30th (minus-5.06), Nuggets (+0.40)

The link: Nuggets coverage in The Denver Post. Kings coverage in The Bee. (Game story vs. Spurs on Sunday. Game notes. Photo slide show).

* * *


Before George Karl became infatuated with offensive basketball, a la his good friend Don Nelson, he was regarded as an excellent defensive coach (Cleveland, Seattle). So look what happens when old George goes retro? The Nuggets slash payroll, basically give shotblocker Marcus Camby away to the Clippers, and actually improve defensively. Maybe that swap of Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups rekindled Karl's passion for defense, though Billups isn't in Gary Payton's class as a ballhawker. Anyway, Karl can't believe that no one believes. He reminded the Denver Post last week that, "It seems like the national media does not want to jump on our bandwagon. The only thing I say to those people is, 'go watch the film.' Defensively, we (have) led the Western Conference in (defensive) field goal percentage the whole year." It's true. He is not exaggerating.

* * *


The Kings have two road games remaining (Denver and Minnesota). They cannot possibly play more poorly than they did in the opening quarter of Friday's debacle against the lowly Los Angeles Clippers, can they? Even a smidge of defense would be a monumental improvement ....


* * *

The expansion team Reno Bighorns, the Kings' affiliate in the NBA Developmental League, finished the season Saturday night with a 25-25 record and just missed the playoffs. Not bad given that Jay Humphries' club started the season with a bruising road schedule and a 1-11 record . Still wondering what Donte Greene was doing in Sacramento when he could have been in Reno for an extended period (a) playing himself into shape, (b) distancing himself from the zone defense played during his one season at Syracuse, and (c) developing the mechanics for a jump shot. His form is ever-changing; sometimes the ball's rotation is perfect, other times the seams are off in different angles. Weird.

With five games remaining in the Kings' regular season, which means they are a virtual lock to secure one of the top four picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, Geoff Petrie and staff members these next few weeks will be off scouting, working out players, and traveling overseas. Before the Kings-Lakers game earlier tonight, Petrie told me he planned to attend the Euroleague Final Four in Berlin May 1-3, but believed he was traveling overseas about a week earlier. I am absolutely certain that, among his many duties, he will be gathering information about Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio, the teenage whiz who also unfortunately happens to be under contract to DKV Joventut. We can keep hearing that Rubio is trying to buy out his contract and enter the NBA, but we'll see.


So let's get started ...

Here are the players I believe would most benefit the Kings, in order. (This week, anyway):
1. Blake Griffin. Oklahoma
2. Ricky Rubio. DKV Joventut
3. Jonny Flynn. Syracuse
4. Tyreke Evans. Memphis


Back in the building

Kings co-owner Joe Maloof, who missed the Vlade Divac retirement ceremony because he was bedridden with a bad back, attended Tuesday's game with his brother, Gavin, and his mother, Colleen. "Back, hips, knees, they're all related," said Joe Maloof, shaking his head. He underwent double-knee replacement surgery in October and is still hobbling along

Final thoughts on Kings-Lakers

* It was interesting to note that the crowd began favoring the Lakers about the time the Kings subs reverted to their usual one-on-one, my turn, your turn style of offense, in sharp contrast to the play of the starters in the fast-paced and entertaining first period.
* The Kings' futility from three-point range was ghastly, especially that of the reserves. Donte Greene was 1-for-7, Bobby Jackson 0-for-4 and Rashad McCants 0-for-3.
* I spoke with Luke Walton for a few minutes after the game, and asked how his father - Hall of Fame center Bill Walton - was feeling. Luke said his dad, who had surgery to fuse vertebrae in his lower back a few months ago, remains pretty immobile. He's only allowed to walk around the house for brief periods. Yet, attesting yet again to Vlade Divac's reputation within the NBA, when I left a message for Bill last week, explaining that I was writing a series of articles and columns about Vlade, he called early the next morning, and said he would be delighted to talk about Divac. He then proceeded to go on and on about Vlade's extraordinary court vision and passing skills. Here's wishing Bill the best. I covered him when he played for the San Diego Clippers - at a time when he attended Stanford Law School during the week, and played for the Clips on the weekends, when his ailing feet permitted - and he was always a classy, cooperative person.
* After a shaky start to the season, and a lengthy slump following Reggie Theus' dismissal, Francisco Garcia is finishing strong.

Between watching North Carolina's romp over Michigan State and ESPN's interviews with Hall of Fame inductees MIchael Jordan, John Stockton, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan and C. Vivian Stringer, I was reminded that Stockton played his final NBA game at Arco Arena against the Kings in the 2003 playoffs. He was 41 years old - and still averaged 7.7 during that final season. One of our Bee photographers took an incredible shot of Stockton, seated on the bench in the closing seconds of the Jazz defeat, head bowed, face in his hands, and the Arco crowd on in its feet behind the visitors bench, arms raised, applauding and appreciating one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

This is how special Stockton was: At 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, he is still the league's all-time leader in steals and assists. Consider that while the career-long Utah Jazz star finished with 15,806 career assists, his nearest competitior was Mark Jackson ... with 10,334! Jason Kidd (10,148) and Magic Johnson (10,141) followed. Additionally, Stockton, whose huge hands enabled him to palm the ball and throw those one-bounce bullets that he was famous for, also averaged an NBA best 14.5 assists in 1989-90. Even for those of us non-stat freaks, those numbers are ridiculous. And to think he was drafted with the No.16 pick in 1984 .....

As for those other inductees ...

Congrats to the other inductees, including Sloan, another familiar face in Arco. He never won a championship, but there is no debating his influence on the game. I suspect he signed another one-year deal only weeks before Jazz owner Larry Miller died, basically to ensure a smooth transition to other family members.
As for Jordan, who was mainly responsible for denying Sloan, Stockton, Karl Malone an NBA ring, he has no equal. Maybe someday we'll be talking about LeBron James in Jordanesque terms, but not yet. Not even close. The discussion doesn't even begin until one of his successors suffocates opponentes the way Jordan did defensively. He was .... vicious. He sure sounded wistful during his interviews though, didn't he? As if he didn't know what to do with himself post-basketball? Guaranteed, he never sounded that lost during his career ....

One more nugget of useful info

My personal affinity for assists led me to discover that Reggie Theus ranks 21st on the league's list for total assists. Just wondering: Will modern players ever learn/embrace/discover the advantages of advancing the ball with the pass instead of the dribble? Nah. Makes too much sense. The next time David Stern asks what went wrong with his league, look no further than his point guard's insistence on dribbling the ball downcourt, wasting precious seconds, while fans look on and (yawn).

March 18, 2009
On the road with the NBA



What did we ever do without cell phones? The land line in my office rang Tuesday afternoon, and when I answered, the voice at the other end sounded surprised. We can all relate. (Hate those automated answer machines). The caller then introduced herself as Marilyn Merritt, a 70-year-old, long haul trucker calling from rural Pennsylvania. Frozen foods, mostly. In a previous life, she said, before the economy tanked, she was retired. Before that, she was a librarian at Sac State.

The kicker is this: She travels with her husband - didn't catch his name - and says the two somehow co-exist despite the fact she's an impassioned Kings fan and he's a rabid Lakers partisan. "We have to negotiate," she laughed. "We share space (in the cab). We have a TV, fridge, a double-bed. I try to keep up with the Kings in the local newspapers. It's a really hard life, though. We live in a small town between Grants Pass and Roseburg, Ore., but my son lives in Sacramento. Our truck broke down, so we're here waiting. I'm going to miss my granddaughter's first piano recital."

Her hope is to get back out West by next week, and possibly take her granddaughter to the Kings-Hornets game on March 31 for the Vlade Divac jersey retirement ceremony. "What a sweet guy," she said.

I hope she calls back. I forgot to ask her handle.

Don't get him started

As I noted in my column in today's Bee, Joe Maloof is more than a little chippy of late. Fans seated near the tunnel area during the Kings-Cavs game last Friday at Arco Arena might have caught the Kings co-owner in a major rant. No, he wasn't ripping into me for something I had written, though that's happened. He was venting about Bernie Madoff and wondering why his family was erroneously listed in published magazine reports - though later deleted - among the scam artist's victims. "Where did that come from?" he asked angrily. "We don't even know the guy." After I noted that The Bee was innocent of all charges, he calmed down. As for the Maloof finances, he acknowledged the Kings are a mess, but said the Palms is withstanding the economic crunch better than most Las Vegas hotel/casinos because of its niche clientele (young, hip, international) and that the family beer business - which speaks to the gut of their empire - is booming. But I still want to know: What's the difference between millionaires and billionaires anyway?

Cleveland (51-13) at Kings (14-50)

Scoring: Kings 14th (99.5), Cavaliers 13th (99.7)
Shooting: Kings 25th (44.75 percent), Cavaliers fifth (46.82)
Scoring defense: Kings 28th (108.2), Cavaliers first (90.4)
Shooting defense: Kings 29th (47.94 percent), Cavaliers first (42.87)
Rebound differential: Kings 30th (minus-5.31), Cavaliers third (plus-2.96)

The link: Cavaliers coverage in the Cleveland Plain Dealer ; Kings coverage in The Bee (Story, notes and game preview.
The almanac: On this date in 1962, the season ended and Philadelphia's Wilt Chamberlain became the only player to exceed 4,000 points (4,029) and average over 50 points (50.4 per game) in an NBA season. On this date in 1962, the Boston Celtics beat the Syracuse Nationals 142-110, becoming the first team to win 60 games (60-20) in an NBA season. On this date in 1998, Utah's John Stockton scored the 15,000th point of his career in a 110-101 win over Vancouver. On this date in 1999, Charles Barkley of the Houston Rockets became the third player in NBA history to amass 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists when he recorded his first assist in a 100-89 victory over Cleveland. He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain in this elite group.

***

After watching LeBron James' performance last night against the Phoenix Suns, I just had to ask: Is there anyone out there who doesn't expect him to come up with another triple-double tonight against the Kings - for what would be his fourth straight? Actually, it should be interesting to watch Andres Nocioni try to aggravate and outmuscle James, one of the three obvious candidates (Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade) for the MVP award. But these are the Kings. Their defense is horrific. Poor Andres will be flying solo ....

The only way James figures to have an off-night is if he doesn't play, which became a real possibility Thursday night. With 1:56 remaining in the third quarter, and the Cavs leading 86-83, he collided with Grant Hill on a drive to the basket, then fell to the court, clutching his left knee/shin. He stayed in the game, however, and in his postgame TNT interview with Craig Sager, said he planned to ice the leg, receive treatment, and see how he felt Friday before determining his availability against the Kings.

FOR THE STAT FREAKS, WHEREVER YOU ARE

LeBron's last three games:
Against the Suns: 34 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists.
Against the Clippers: 32 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists.
Against the Heat: 14 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists.


THUNDER 99, KINGS 98

Game story,Game notes

Box score, Video recap

Kings "Reporter for a day" contest (Click here to enter by Wednesday's noon deadline for a chance to join the Bee's Sam Amick courtside for Friday's game against Cleveland)


* * *

Scotty Brooks, the former Kings assistant who grew up about an hour's drive south of Arco Arena in Manteca, was pretty funny after the game. When we asked him how many family members were in the building, he laughed, and placed the number "in the 40s. Not quite as high as my rookie year, but it's up there." The group included his mother, siblings, former coaches, and undoubtedly, customers from the family business. "Dribbles," the family car wash, is doing okay, despite the economic downturn. One of the disadvantages of living in Oklahoma City instead of Sacramento, of course, is that Brooks can't just hop into his SUV, speed down the interstate, then help with the mop, bucket and sponge duties on his off days. As for stealing out of Arco with the victory, Brooks cracked, "It'll be nice to see my Mom after a win, because she's my biggest critic. I'm sure she found something I did wrong."

Of Heidi, Switzerland, Thabo

I love Switzerland. The majesty of the mountains, the splendor of the lakes, the vivid floral arrangements seemingly on display outside every window. The chocolate, the cheese, the beer. It's easy to travel by train or by foot, and it's so .... clean. But when I think of Switzerland, I never think "basketball." So after the game, I approached the Thunders' Thabo (pronounded Tah-bo) Sefolosha in the visitors locker room and pressed for details. When I told him that I couldn't recall seeing any pickup games during my travels to his birthplace, he laughed. "There were courts," said the 6-foot-7 swingman, who grew up in Vevey, a city located about 13 miles from Lausanne, "but usually it was just me, with the ball, all by myself out there." The son of artists - his mother is Swiss and his father is South African - Sefolosha said he became serious about the game when he was about 14 or 15. He played professionally in Italy and France before being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers (and traded to the Chicago Bulls) in 2006. The Thunder acquired him for a first-round draft choice last month, intrigued by his length, athleticism and defense.

A glimpse at the numbers

- Most appealing stat of the game: Spencer Hawes' all-around effort (20 points, 10 boards, five assists).
- Ugliest stat of the game: A combined total of 45 turnovers between the teams, with Jeff Green (seven), Russell Westbrook (seven) and Hawes (six).
- Biggest question of the night: Was Kevin Martin's left foot really sore enough to keep him on the bench for the deciding fourth period?
- Whatever happened to Donte Greene? Or, better yet, why isn't he down in the Kings' D-League affiliate in Reno, playing extensive minutes and experiencing the joys of the occasional bus ride? His line last night: another DNP. - Ailene Voisin


Preparations for Vlade Divac's week-long visit before the March 31 retirement of his jersey at Arco Arena are underway. And let's just say, Vlade still knows how to party. With more to come, his schedule already includes the following:
* Sunday, March 29: Lunch with Divac at the Serbian Orthodox Church, followed by a 9 p.m. bash at Tre.
* Monday, March 30: A Charitabowl function at Strikes, in Rocklin, beginning at 6 p.m., with Divac, Chris Webber, Doug Christie and Peja Stojakovic.
* Tuesday, March 31: Kings-Hornets game at Arco Arena at 7 p.m., the ceremony taking place at halftime. A post-game bash at Tunel 21 in Old Sac, also sponsored by Divac.
All events are open to the public, with proceeds from the events going to the Humanitarian Organization Divac (HOD), the foundation Divac created to help acquire housing for refugees in his native Serbia. For more information and ticket availability, check out Vlade's website at www.Divac.com.
Additionally, The Bee sports department is planning several days of extensive coverage leading up to the official jersey retirement, possibly including a live blog session with Vlade before he travels here from Serbia. We'll provide details as we receive them.

More on those humbling travel plans

As my colleague, Sam Amick, noted in a recent posting, the Maloofs are back to traveling commerical instead of charter - most often on Southwest Airlines. But I heard an interesting story the other day: Because of lingering discomfort from his double-knee replacement surgery, Joe Maloof drives more often than he flies between his homes in Southern California and Las Vegas. Or, I should say, he sits in the passenger seat while someone else hits the gas.

Thinking about Charles P. Daly

Reports about Chuck Daly's battle with pancreatic cancer began surfacing during the All-Star Game in Phoenix, but finally became public on Friday. Daly, 78, who guided the Detroit Pistons to consecutive NBA titles (1989-90), is undergoing chemotherapy, with his treatment overseen by specialists at Sloan-Kettering Memorial Hospital in New York. Here's wishing Chuck the best. As the handful of my colleagues who accompanied the original Dream Team in the weeks preceding the 1992 Olympics will attest, that was a magical time, made even more enjoyable because of Daly's engaging nature and accessibility. La Jolla. Portland. Monte Carlo. Barcelona. Bird, Magic, Michael, and a young Charles Barkley. In this business, that's as good as it gets.

One additional thought: One of the journalists who traveled with the Dream Team - longtime NBA writer Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News - is coping with his own battle with colon cancer. For those who might not recognize the name, Phil was the writer who asked the relatively innocuous question that sent Allen Iverson into his now famous rant about "practice."


BOBCATS 98, KINGS 91

Game story, Game notes, Photo slideshow

Box score, Video recap

***
The latest from the woulda, coulda, shoulda category, and reminding everyone that the winning coach in Arco Arena last night - Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown - practically begged Geoff Petrie for an interview two offseasons ago. And Petrie, who historically is very conservative when hiring coaches, said no thanks. Of course, after Brown's infamous one-season (2005-06) flameout with the New York Knicks, preceded by his nasty departure from the Detroit Pistons, the NBA's reigning frequent flier was considered damaged goods, and in the opinion of many, past his coaching prime and not worth the risk.

Oooops. After a two-year coaching sabbatical eased by the buyout with the Knicks, Brown was hired last summer by his old friend/fellow North Carolina alum and Bobcats minority owner Michael Jordan. And so far, all is good. Brown, still trim and youthful-looking at 68, is invigorated and committed. His Bobcats are flawed but improving, though their 23-35 record suggests Brown will suffer only his fifth losing season in his 24-year NBA head-coaching career. (He never experienced a sub-.500 season in his four seasons in the old ABA or his seven seasons coaching in college. He also won championships with the Detroit Pistons and Kansas Jayhawks).

So, yeah, given how far the mighty Kings have fallen, and the fact that Larry is affordable these days because of the Knicks' cushion, Geoff probably regrets not extending the invitation. (Joe and Gavin Maloof were ecstatic about Brown's interest, and were ready to offer a contract before Geoff talked them down). Imagine Brown working with youngsters Spencer Hawes, Jason Thompson, Donte Greene? At the very least - the very least - Brown, who is universally regarded as a superb teacher and technician, would have implemented a defensive structure and restored credibility to the franchise.

Small-market franchises need to be smarter and strike it big when they can. This was one of those times. This was a blown opportunity.

The game stunk, but at least MJ showed

Jordan, who occasionally accompanies the Bobcats on the road, joined the team before tipoff and sat along the baseline, feet from the visitors bench. What was hilarious was that, while none of us were even aware he was in the building, a Kings publicist walked along press row in the first quarter, informed us of where Jordan was sitting, but said he was not to be approached for interviews. Well, whatever. In the cramped visitors locker room afterward, while some of us were talking with former Kings high-flier Gerald Wallace, Jordan came out of the training room, snuck up and grabbed me from behind. After we shared a few private words, he started yucking it up with the crowd of reporters, as playful and boisterous as I have ever seen him. I wonder if - years removed from the spotlight - he misses this stuff?

A reunion in the tunnel


Before the Bobcats boarded the team bus back to their downtown hotel, the area outside the Kings locker room resembled a Chicago Bulls reunion. Jordan, stylishly attired in a blue suit, stood talking with Bobcats vice president Rod Higgins, his close friend and traveling buddy Charles Oakley, and Kings assistant Randy Brown. Other players and coaches wandered past, and joined the conversations. When I asked the blunt-speaking Oakley about the Kings, he frowned and shook his head. His initial reaction was that they were not remotely interested in defending. But then he groused, "The whole league is soft these days." Gotta love Oak. Even with the salt-and-pepper hair, and well into his 40's, he looks like he could still set one vicious screen.

Finals thoughts on the coach who got away

LaSalle "Tank" Thompson, who was among the players accompanying the Kings from Kansas City to Sacramento in 1985, and who remained in town for two decades, was hired by Brown to work with the Bobcats' big men. He had this to say about his boss: "Larry is very knowledgeable. I was shocked at how much he knows. This man, I mean ... sometimes I wonder why we even scout. He knows so much. He knows every play that every coach in the league runs. You can ask about any player in the league and he can give you a thorough scouting report on him. He is just a fountain of knowledge."


NEW ORLEANS 112, KINGS 105

Game story, Game notes

Box score, Video recap

* * *

Although I had seen Andres Nocioni play in person on numerous occasions, both in the NBA and international competitions (Athens Olympics, Tournament of the Americas in Puerto Rico, World Championships in Indianapolis), I was really impressed with his overall game in his Arco Arena debut earlier this evening. I was reminded of how physically he and his Argentine countrymen Manu Ginobili and Luis Scola attack the game. And it's not as if they aren't skilled. Nocioni is just a basketball player. He can pass, shoot, run the floor, make plays, and defensively he gets into the body of his opponent. He is fun to watch.

Stop the whining, please

Jason Thompson's recurring foul trouble is becoming worrisome. Most worrisome is that he actually believes he's being victimized because he's a rookie. Undoubtedly there is some of that. (Against the Hornets, he was called for his third foul less than four minutes into the game). But I agree with Jerry Reynolds and Grant Napear - and I can't believe the words are actually spilling out of my laptop - that he needs a reality check. During the telecast Saturday night from Dallas, both announcers scolded Thompson for his constant overreaction to foul calls. And as Reynolds noted at halftime Monday night, the referees' calls are accurate the vast majority of the time. (That fourth quarter of Game 6 against the Lakers in 2002 was an aberration, believe me). Based on the replays I look at, he consistently is guilty of reaching, using both hands on an opponent's body (and not being very subtle about it), and continuing to draw attention to himself with his angry, frustrated gestures. The refs are human. Make them look foolish at your own risk. I asked Geoff Petrie the other night what was going on, whether he was troubled about the situation, and he said the matter had been raised with Thompson on a number of occasions.

Thompson has been and remains a real bright spot, but he is one stubborn young man. He doesn't know the league nearly as well as he thinks he does, a la Spencer Hawes a year ago.

I always enjoy my exchanges with Jason Whitlock, a colleague with the Kansas City Star. We have chatted during press conferences, during games, at restaurants, and once while jogging on adjacent treadmills in a hotel fitness center. I also have a particular fondness for Kansas City: As a first-year NBA beat writer in 1981, my first road trip was covering the former San Diego Clippers against the former Kansas City Kings in Kemper Arena. The late Cotton Fitzimmons was the Kings' coach. After the game - and before reporters could ask a question - the feisty Cotton filled up the notebook. I can't say the same about the building. The place was dark and half-empty. The fans I interacted with were passionate about the Chiefs and seemed to care a lot about the Royals.

Some things haven't changed. When I visited Kansas City again in 2005 to write about the mayor's campaign for a downtown arena (to read story, click here), I learned that the community still adores the Chiefs, has become disillusioned with the chronically lousy Royals, is just as interested in Big 12 basketball, and has become swept up by the NASCAR craze.

So, when I heard that Jason had written a column suggesting the Kings relocate to the new downtown arena, I thought, okay, why not? And then I remembered why the franchise left in the first place - mainly because Kansas City was too small a market to support a third professional franchise. "Cotton actually used to say the Kings were the fourth team in town," related Kings player personnel director Jerry Reynolds, who was coaching college ball in the area when Gregg Lukenbill brought the franchise to Sacramento in 1985. "He said it was the Chiefs, the Royals, college basketball, and Tom Watson, who was at the height of his career. Don't get me wrong. Kansas City is a great sports town. It's just a small market (31st in Nielsen rankings), smaller than Sacramento (20th)."

Besides. It wasn't like anyone cared that much even when the Kings were good. When they won the Midwest Division title in 1979, for instance, they ranked 10th in attendance. Of 22 teams.

Let's get not greedy, folks. This is the time to share the wealth. Kansas City has NFL and Major League Baseball franchises, major college basketball teams and tournaments, NASCAR events and a fabulous Negro Baseball Leagues museum. And what does Sactown have? The Kings ... the Kings ... the Kings ... the Kings ...

Curious to hear Reggie Theus' thoughts on the Kings, the recent moves, and his own plans, I reached him on his cell phone a few minutes ago and found him eager to chat. (My few previous attempts found him reluctant to rehash his one-plus seasons in Sacramento). Anyway, he was about as candid as he could be without damaging his future job prospects. He still refuses to totally bash his former employers, but he had some interesting things to say. We'll give him the microphone and let him vent:

On being replaced by Kenny Natt on Dec. 14 with the Kings off to a 6-18 start during his second season

"Obviously, with the record, and the way things were done, it wasn't my coaching. The team we had wasn't healthy. The thing I don't understand is that Geoff (Petrie) said I wouldn't be evaluated until the team was healthy. How do you justify that? That was tough. I don't think I got a fair shot. But watching the team disintegrate was even tougher. Watching it go into the toilet ... watching the personalities lose confidence, regress ... that was tough. I thought Beno (Udrih), who was struggling, got worse.

"Spencer (Hawes), who had been playing pretty well, went totally downhill. Jason (Thompson) stayed pretty consistent. Pushing Kevin (Martin), demanding that he play defense and play on a high level, expecting him to be a high-level player, that's the challenge Kevin needs to be the player he needs to be. ... This team was being laughed at after we (Theus and assistant Chuck Person) left. For the most part, we played hard every night. This team was not a joke. If you didn't come in and play hard, the Kings could beat you. We were a team that could steal a game on you if you didn't come to play."

On the trades of Brad Miller, John Salmons, Shelden Williams, Bobby Brown, and the waiving of Mikki Moore and Quincy Douby

"I think the moves were very confusing for the guys, but I think they were necessary given the economic stress the team has been under. If you can save $26 million and stay under the cap so you can make other moves down the road, I think that's good. Obviously, I hope there's an overall game plan. I think Geoff (Petrie) finally decided that the team wasn't what he thought it was."

On the newcomers

"I particularly like (Andres) Nocioni because of his toughness. The team lacked toughness as a whole. It was just a general perception, and by that I mean, needing a physical presence. Guys who would bust through screens, make it clear (to opponents) that you are not going to take any crap."


On his preference between coaching in the NBA or college

"Either one. Whichever is a better opportunity. There are going to be jobs opening up in the league at the end of the season, so we'll see. I do know I'm a better coach today than I was when I took the job. I am grateful for the opportunity.

Hall of Fame forward Dominque Wilkins, who happens to be one of the most unassuming and most underappreciated superstars in the modern era, and who also happens to work as the Atlanta Hawks television analyst, was in Sactown last night, and more than willing to offer his opinion on the Kings' series of moves. And -- surprise, surprise - don't tell him the Kings' six-player trade that essentially sent Brad Miller and John Salmons to Chicago for Andres Nocioni and Drew Gooden was motivated primarily by an attempt to trim their team payroll and create salary cap flexibility for the next two seasons. 'Nique didn't volunteer much about Gooden, but he couldn't stop praising Nocioni. "He only plays one way," said Wilkins, chatting near the press table before tipoff. "He plays hard, plays hard. He never stops. I told him one time, 'I love that about you, man. Don't ever change.' That's one of the things that bugs me about the way people remember me. They all talk about, 'oh, he was a two-time Slamdunk champ.' But they forget that I was All-League most of my career, and an All-Star most of the time, except for my first few years, when I was going up against guys like Marques Johnson, Larry Bird, Bernard King, Doctor J - and that was in the Eastern Conference alone.

While watching the Kings lose in Oklahoma City earlier tonight, and counting John Salmons' impressive assist total (11), I couldn't help but think about another wiry, versatile 6-foot-6, 6-foot-7 former Kings swingman. It probably helped that Doug Christie attended Chris Webber's jersey retirement ceremony Friday night at Arco Arena. Someone who watched the halftime ceremonies on television asked me why Doug seemed to avoid making eye contact when he addressed the crowd. Because he was afraid he would start crying? Absolutely. Christie was always his own person - and unfazed by the constant chatter about his, um, unusually close relationship with his wife, Jackie - and when he talked to you, he unfailingly made eye contact. He never hid from anything. He was ... who he was. How many other NBA players, for example, would have admitted "choking" in a big game, which Doug did after hoisting airballs in Game 7 of the 2002 conference finals with the Lakers?

But back to Salmons. And how much I appreciated Christie's all-court game, and especially his willingness as a passer. During the Kings' run earlier this decade, the Seattle native was the primary ballhandler, the best defender and as selfless as Vlade Divac. His only agenda was winning. I always thought he would be an excellent coach, partly because so much of coaching is teaching, and Doug has a way of explaining things in a very succinct manner. Interestingly, when I asked him the other night about his future plans, he said he is homeschooling his kids in Seattle, but has started thinking about pursuing a coaching job either in colleges or as an NBA assistant.

Like I said. I'm biased. His influence on Sacramento's most successful teams was subtle and essential, and I enjoyed watching him play immensely.

February 5, 2009
Just wondering ...

After another night of channel-surfing through the games on NBA Pass, I settled upon the neighborly Warriors-Suns blowout, and was left wondering yet again how nice Rony Turiaf would have looked in a Kings jersey. He is exactly the type of role player the Kings need - and never seem to acquire. He takes charges. He blocks shots. He understands his role, and particularly, his offensive limitations. He's a wonderful teammate, so say his former Laker buddies. Forget Corey Maggette. Turiaf was Chris Mullin's best offseason acquisition. And for all their problems - maybe it's a Northern California NBA virus - the Warriors should be really happy that Elton Brand wasn't tempted by their offer. He's a nice player, but not a superstar. At his salary (approximately $16 million per year, through 2013), he should be a superstar. Injuries are limiting his effectiveness, but that was true during his tenure with the Clippers, too. Buyer, beware.

As the trade deadline nears ...

Memo to Geoff Petrie: Two weeks remain until the Feb. 19 trade deadlne. Please start shopping. Take an empty cart, fill it with every Kings player except Jason Thompson, Spencer Hawes, Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia, and find the best bargain (bargains). More importantly, find pieces that fit. The Kings have some talent, and several players who could be contributors in the right situations. But on this roster, the skills aren't complementary. Puzzling, isn't it? It's up to Petrie to figure it all out ...


About that Development League

Tell me again why the Kings are affiliated with the Reno Bighorns of the D-League if they don't bother to send, say, Donte Greene down for some extra work? The 20-year-old rookie is wasting his time - and theirs - by sitting on the bench, shifting restlessly and jokingly during timeouts, and seemingly not developing his abilities. Additionally, he rarely stays after practice to scrimmage with ultracompetitive youngsters Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson, which makes you wonder about his desire/maturity level. Just a hunch, but either the Kings brain trusts need to prod Greene onto the court to improve his conditioning and his skill, or they really should send him to the Bighorns. A few bumpy bus rides might be good for him. As they say, if you aren't going to develop 20-year-olds, don't draft them ...

February 3, 2009
Intriguing, but unlikely

OK, so admit it. When the severity of Andrew Bynum's knee injury was disclosed, with the Lakers young center expected to miss eight to 12 weeks - assuming there are no setbacks - the thought of Brad Miller switching jerseys looked pretty appealing. But any Kings-Lakers swap also appears pretty unlikely. My sources are telling me that although Mitch Kupchak wouldn't be opposed to a trade, and Phil Jackson always has affinity for skilled passers and shooters, the Lakers would be much more interested if Miller's hefty contract expired this offseason, which it doesn't. The longest-tenured King earns $11.3 million this year and $12.2 million in 2009-10. Lamar Odom, by contrast, who would be the major element in any potential Kings-Lakers swap, comes off the books this summer at $11.4 million. Kupchak and Geoff Petrie have a good relationship, though, so they'll probably keep talking.

KINGS 122, OKLAHOMA CITY 118 (OT)

Game story, Column (on Spencer Hawes), Photo slideshow, Preview of tonight's game @ Phoenix

Box score, Video recap

***

Hard to believe, but that noon tussle between the Kings and the Oklahoma City Thunder was one of the more entertaining outings of the season. I dunno. Maybe the Kings function better in the a.m.? There wasn't much defense played by either team, which is consistent with the fact that both teams rank near the bottom in stats and standings. But there is something to be said about watching talented youngsters (Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, Spencer Hawes, Jason Thompson) race up and down the court, learning as they go. Durant is spectacular, of course, but watching Westbrook penetrate, find people and make plays reinforced my belief that the Kings' most glaring deficiency is at point guard. They desperately need an athletic playmaker, and one with the quickness and desire to defend the ball. Until Geoff Petrie obtains one via trade, free agency, the draft, their major issues will not be resolved. The fact that Kevin Martin is a prolific scorer but uninspired defender - even though he should be able to collect at least a few rebounds and play the passing lanes - compounds matters. Beno Udrih would be best utilized as a backup point guard (see his Spurs days) or as a combo third guard, and for whatever reason, rookie Bobby Brown isn't providing a change of pace, lift off the bench. And he certainly shows no inclination toward pressuring his man and disrupting an opponent's offense. One other observation about Westbrook: his footwork is exceptional.

Other postgame thoughts:
* With Udrih out with a calf injury, Francisco Garcia played a lot at the point, and he responded with one of his most poised all-around efforts: 17 points, five rebounds, seven assists - and of greatest significance - only one turnover.
* The Kings were outrebounded 51-43, but Spencer Hawes seemed to respond to Kenny Natt's repeated pleas to "rebound, Spencer!"
* Further evidence of the Kings' inability to stop the ball, especially on the perimeter: Westbrook converted 20 of his 22 free throws, the most by an opponent in the Sacramento era. And the hits just keep on coming ...
* I am already impressed with one thing about the Thunder's Scotty Brooks as one of the interim coaches hired for the duration of the season. A few days after replacing his friend, P.J. Carlesimo, Brooks, a first-time head coach, made calls around the league, asking about experienced assistants. He ultimately hired Ron Adams, the longtime NBA assistant and former head coach at Fresno State.
* Shelden Williams went to Duke, so he has to be a smart guy. So I am still wondering why he hasn't figured out that he could enjoy a long, lucrative career as a bruiser. Though undersized as a power forward/center, he has a wide, muscular body. When he concentrates on rebounding and providing an interior presence instead of scoring and holding onto the ball, he is an effective role player.
* Was it only an eight-game losing streak? Geez, it seemed longer.
* OK, a final vent: We used to accuse the "old" Kings of complaining too much about the officiating, but this bunch is relentless. The veterans continue to set a lousy example for Hawes and Thompson, both of whom have too much to say about calls and non-calls. Enough already.

Near the end of my conversation with Joe Maloof yesterday at the Palms for the lengthy Q&A in today's editions of the Bee, I asked what he thought about Geoff Petrie's suggestion that the Kings would benefit at some point from purchasing the Reno Bighorns, their affilate in the NBA Development League. Joe completely agreed. Speaking, of course, of a future investment - the Kings co-owners already have enough financial issues with the Monarchs and Kings, and an outdated arena - he embraced the concept of a developmental league as a vehicle to oversee the progress of, say, a Donte Greene. "Yes, yes," he said, adamantly. "we would look at buying them. I've seen what it's done for Donte. He's been up and down there, but he's getting training, teaching, an opportunity to get big minutes. I think all the young players - and you know what I love about Donte Greene? I love the way he accepted going down there for five games. He wasn't like, 'I'm better than the D-League.' He's 20-years-old. He's smart enough to realize, 'Hey, I've got to work at this if I want to do well, if I want a career.' And he has that attitude. I'm really proud of him saying 'I want to go down,' instead of throwing a tantrum and acting like he's too good.' So I told Gavin, 'I love his attitude.' And that's the D-League. So, yes, I like it a lot. I think it would be very good for us to have complete control over them (Bighorns) at some point."

More Maloof musings ...


After catching up with Joe in the coffee shop - pun intended - and immediately noting his physical discomfort even four months after his double knee replacement surgery (and subsequent stroke), I understand where he's coming from when he says he should have listened to the people who had advised him to take it one knee at a time. Actually, I was pretty shocked at his condition. He isn't as gaunt as he was when he made an early-season trip to Sac, but he still seems pretty miserable. He continually stretched his legs and rubbed his knees, grimacing. When I asked how much pain he was experiencing, he shrugged and said the knees stiffen up, and he tries to keep them as loose as possible.
A few minutes later, when we were making the short walk to the hotel exit, he had to stop and momentarily sit down at a slot machine. He massaged his knees, and then we continued.
Overall, though, I was surprised at his good spirits and his candor. It had been years since I had spent that much time with Joe, just sitting and talking, asking questions and getting answers, without his friends or handlers hanging around and interfering. It reminded me of when his family first bought the Kings and he and Gavin still had that immensely charming "aw shucks," small-town air. On Sunday, seated in a quiet booth in the back, he was funny, pensive, and even nostalgic for the days when the Kings were the toast of Sacramento and he and Gavin were beloved and competed with our celebrity governor for the headlines. To his credit, he also laughed and acknowledged his public relations and personnel gaffes, refused to apologize for being passionate and involved, and said he finally understood that pro sports owners of losing teams invariably catch the wrath of the fans. He reminded me of the old Joe, before the fans and we media types ruined him!.


Thoughts of Larry Miller


Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller has long been one of my favorites. We completely disagree on politics and other matters, but I always appreciated the fact that he respects the opinions of others, bought the Utah Jazz when the franchise was in jeopardy of being relocated, and I particularly enjoyed his quirky, small-town, if intrusive personna. Who else - and where else - could someone get away with this:? Until his illnesses of the last few years, he frequented his own stall alongside the players in the locker room, retrieved shots for his players during warmups, and participated in the huddle during introductions. I lways thought it was so quaint, and so unique. Maybe it's a chic thing. Larry is always quick with the quotes, too. He can shoot his mouth off with the best of them, often much to his regret. But you have to love his passion, his loyalty to the Jazz and his community. Quite the character. Here's hoping for a full recovery.

January 17, 2009
Two nights later ...

So what is it with these Kings? Two nights after persisting and prevailing against the Warriors in triple overtime, they snooze through the first half and blow an opportunity against a Milwaukee Bucks team whose starting center (Andrew Bogut) is sidelined with an injury. That was not a misprint for those who turned off the television. The Kings trailed by 23 points before closing to 114-112 with just under four minutes remaining.

A few observations:
* Beno Udrih committed five turnovers and contributed only two assists, and though his more aggressive play of late is a welcome development, I still think he is more effective when he thinks like a playmaker instead of a scorer.
* Kevin Martin is getting into the habit of flailing when he gets bumped on a play, trying too hard to sell the foul, and when he doesn't get the call, complaining to the referees while play is ongoing. And seriously, no athletic 6-foot-6 player should complain about anything after managing only three rebounds, no assists and no steals (to go with 24 points).
* Too many of the Kings are griping about fouls, substitutions, etc., and are far too demonstrative as they walk toward the bench. Kenny Natt has to gain control of the situation before it spirals out of control.
* John Salmons led the Kings with six assists - one shy of his seven-assist effort against the Warriors. His defense on Michael Redd in the fourth quarter also enabled the Kings to make the game interesting.
* Jason Thompson is starting to resemble the rookie who got everyone so excited earlier in the season. Mostly, he is pursuing rebounds, hustling for loose balls and scoring in the rhythm of the offense. Spencer Hawes, by contrast, seems lost. Unlike his play throughout November and December, his interior defense is a step slow, he isn't rebounding (period), and he appears confused about when to set up in the high post or move down low. I like him at center better than power forward, and particularly when Thompson is the power forward. I think the Brad Miller-Hawes combo is too slow and defensively challenged.
* Bucks second-round draft pick Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, a 6-foot-8 forward out of UCLA, is a better pro than I expected. Actually, he's exactly the type of tough, physical and athletic player the Kings could use. He' s not a star, but he'll always have a job in this league.
* The Kings' defense was pathetic. Natt accurately summarized his club's problems when he accused them of lacking "heart" in the first half, though their apparent confusion about the defensive schemes comes back to him. Either he didn't clearly communicate, or they weren't listening. This is one very frustrated bunch ...
* And the good news is, the more games the Kings lose like this, the more Geoff Petrie learns about his personnel. Whom to trade. Whom to build around. What positions to fill. I'm thinking, I hope Ricky Rubio declares for the draft. Adding a Jason Williams-type performer - without the baggage - wouldn't be bad. You know. Someone who plays with passion, likes to play fast, and isn't afraid to show some emotion? That's why I like the youngsters, Hawes and Thompson, despite their inconsistency.


DONTE IS COMING BACK ... AND WHY?


I caught up with Petrie in the tunnel during the second quarter, and he confirmed that he is recalling Donte Greene from the D-League after the Reno Bighorns' game Saturday afternoon. I'm not sure I understand his rationale, though, given that the 6-foot-10 small forward has had one exceptional game and three so-so performances. If Donte isn't dominating the D-League, what's to be gained by bringing him back? I guess the idea is to keep him around the team and to create some playing time. But in place of Cisco Garcia? Salmons? Thompson? I don't see it, but then, I don't get paid Petrie's big bucks, either ...

FROM COLLEGE TO THE PROS


First-year Bucks assistant Kelvin Sampson, who is among the latest of the former college head coaches to enter the NBA, told me that he understands why so many college coaches struggle when making the transition directly from college to an NBA head-coaching position. The list of notables he is referring to includes Mike Montgomery, P.J. Carlesimo, Jerry Tarkanian, Tim Floyd, etc. "It's so different," said Sampson, who was fired by Indiana for NCAA recruiting violations. "The last two minutes of the game. Free throws. Inbounding the ball at halfcourt. Understanding how to save timeouts so you have one with 10 seconds left. Those are things I never would have thought of."
I have to add here that while glancing toward the visitors bench when the game started, I was struck by the overall quality of the Bucks' coaching staff. Scott Skiles - and I love his intellect and his intensity, even though he wears everyone out after about four seasons - has put together a terrific group with former NBA head coaches Jim Boylan and Lionel Hollins, Sampson, who was regarded as an excellent coach during his tenure at Oklahoma and the U.S. national team, and Joe Wolf, a former NBA journeyman who spent two years as a head coach in the CBA and another two in the D-League. Wolf also happens to be a native of Wisconsin, and one of the many former Clippers who remained classy and professional amid their unseemly surroundings.

January 15, 2009
It takes three ...

For a night anyway, ignore the fact that Wednesday's game featured two fo the league's bottom feeders. The triple-overtime treat between the Kings and Warriors game deserved a second look ... and perhaps a third .... even though it featured two of the league's bottom feeders. The physical effort alone is noteworthy, specifically, because the Kings had embarrassed themselves 24 hours earlier against the Orlando Magic, and because the Warriors were without the injured Stephen Jackson, Monta Ellis, Marco Belinelli and Brandan Wright. Also, Corey Maggette, C.J. Watson and Andris Biedrins fouled out well before the outcome was decided in the third OT.

Other musings, observations:

* The playing time was crazy. Jamal Crawford (60), John Salmons (56), Beno Udrih (56), Kevn Martin (55) and Brad Miller (51) definitely earned Thursday day off.
* What got into Brad? This is probably just a coincidence, but in the locker room before the game, former NBA coach Paul Silas visited with with Kings coach Kenny Natt, whom he hired as an assistant in Cleveland, and Miller, whom he coached during the center's second season in the league in Charlotte. Silas, a former star at nearby McClymonds High, was in Oakland to visit his son, Warriors assistant Stephen Silas, and his longtime friend and former Boston Celtics teammate Don Nelson. The scene was actually pretty funny.
While waiting for the Kings bus to arrive, the burly Silas stood in the back tunnel area, leaning on a stationary bicycle. When the Kings started walking into the buiilding, the understandably preoccupied Natt walked toward the locker room, head down, but then did a double-take when he saw Silas. I left so the two could chat. In the locker room a while later, Silas and Miller plopped down on two chairs in the middle of the room, sat laughing and reminiscing for about 20 minutes. When I approached, Silas affectionately described the former Hornet as a muscular rebounder who ran the floor relentlessly and consistently attacked the basket. The jumpers and pretty passes came later in his career. Miller joked that he ran the floor and rebounded because, on that particular Hornets team, that was the only way he ever touched the ball. Ok. So what happened next? Miller goes out and contributes a muscular 30 points, 22 rebounds and two steals in what some (Pete Carril among them) suggest was a career-best performance. I asked Brad if he was showing off for his old coach. He just laughed. In all seriousness, I can think of several games that rival last night's performance, including his triple-double outings in 2003-2004. People might forget, but Miller routinely flirted with triple-doubles and was named to the All-Star that season.
* Just thinking: I love when Miller plays with passion, but can't he cool it with the technicals? That was in the scouting report on him in 2003-2004, too
* The words "gutsy" and "Beno" aren't often uttered in the same conversation, but the maligned point guard took the ball hard to the basket, and frequently became acquainted with the floor, a la Kevin Johnson. Beno might want to review tapes of Sacramento's mayor during his days with the Phoenix Suns, as a matter of fact. KJ was superb at penetrating - and landing without getting hurt - but he was equally adept at getting into the lane and finding open teammates in the corners, on the wings, or trailing on the break. Yes, yes, yes. More passing, please.
* I often have asked myself why Golden State's crowds remain so energetic, given the fact the club is decimated by injury, free agent defections and soon will be joining the Kings in the NBA Lottery. After being in Arco Arena and Oracle Arena on consecutive nights, and noting the contrasting energy and enthusiasm levels, I have come to the following conclusion: the Warriors might be a flawed club, but at least on their homecourt, they play fast, move the ball, and have three-point shooters who can hit those momentum-changing three's that excite a crowd. In other words, it's one thing to be a bad team that plays at a slow, methodical pace and doesn't move the ball (see the Kings on most nights), and another to be a bad team that is still fun to watch. (see Warriors at Oracle). Forced to play at the Warriors' clip, the Kings are much more enjoyable to watch. Why can't they do this more often? That would give fans something to cheer about.
* Not to harp on the fact that it's so much easier to score before the defense is set (and seems to be a no-brainer to me, especially for teams that are only modestly-talented), but Martin's three-pointer that forced the final overtime was launched before the Warriors' transition defense had time to get set. Instead of slowly bringing the ball upcourt, per usual, Martin moved quickly, saw the opening, then took advantage of the opportunity. Natt continues stressing this facet of play, so maybe something is starting to sink in.
* Salmons' game-winner was the play of the night, of course, but this was his best all-around game in a long time: 25 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and no turnovers. Additionally, he rarely dominated the ball, instead, gave up the dribble and moved to an open spot, enhancing the team's spacing. His late-game defense was significant as well, as was the defensive positioning of Miller and Martin.
* Though the press seating at Oracle is at the top of the lower bowl, it was still possible to see Don Nelson furiously scrawling on the clipboard during late timeouts. While no one will ever accuse Nellie of being a defensive guru, when it comes to designing a play to win a game, he's one of the best. I kept wondering what he was going to come up with this time.
* From the Kings' perspective - and Natt's perspective - this was one of the nights when his club desperately needed a victory. Accordingly, Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson were limited to 11 and 22 minutes, respectively. Hawes struggled defensively and was beaten for several rebounds. Thompson, though, was effective and efficient, with 12 points (5 of 8), nine boards and his usual assortment of taps and hustle plays.

Jerry Reynolds remembers ...

As he walked toward the locker room afterward, Kings do-everything executive and current television analyst Jerry Reynolds reminded me of the Kings' most recent triple-double outing in late February, 2001. We shared a laugh about that one - a wildly entertaining game against the Raptors in Toronto, Peja Stojakovic appeared to hit the game-winner, and in a rare display of bravado, strutted and celebrated as he walked toward the bench. Oooops. One of the Raptors - was it Vince Carter? - responded and tied the second OT. Peja had to win the game all over again, which he did, with another jumper from the side to finish the third OT. That was also one of those afternoons when the Vlade Divac-Chris Webber-Doug Christie-Mike Bibby group amassed assists by the dozens.

So there they are

Several Kings fans were among those who stayed at Oracle until the finish, and they could be heard cheering from all over the building. One fan who paid $500 for his seat just behind the scorer's table - a cheaper ticket than his seats at Arco, he says - approached while JR and I were talking. Jimmy Pierson, a paramedic who attended Christian Brothers High and Sac City, says he bought the ticket on-line earlier in the week. "This is my favorite game of the season," said Pierson, who was wearing a Kings jacket. "I love being from Sac and coming to Golden State, cheering for the Kings against the Warriors fans. I wish we played them more often."

For those who might be wondering, Donte Greene just finished playing significant minutes in his third game in four days. So, OK he's on assignment with the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League, but at least he's playing and getting into better game shape. The Kings' affiliate franchise won a sixth straight victory - 119-114 over the visiting Los Angeles D-Fenders - before a few thousand screaming kids who attended the 11 a.m. tipoff at the Reno Events Center. According to a Bighorns official I spoke with a few minutes ago, Donte had a strong opening half but struggled in the final two quarters. In 29 minutes, the rookie small forward sank 11 of his 17 field-goal attempts, was 0 for 1 at the line, and contributed four rebounds, three assists and three steals. No word yet on how long Geoff Petrie plans to keep him in the D-League, but I wouldn't be surprised if Greene remains with the Bighorns for a few more games. I have been playing phone tag with Petrie, so hopefully, will have an update this evening.



Not to steal any lyrics from my beloved Beatles or anything, but while driving home from Reno this afternoon, the words from one of their hits jumped into my heat. (It's the Beatles. Cut me a break). I made the two-hour trip mostly to spend time with Kings rookie Donte Greene, who was sent to the Kings affiliate in the NBA Development League on Saturday, but came away impressed with Patrick Ewing, Jr., the club's second-round pick who was traded away and eventually waived by the New York Knicks. The 6-foot-8 Ewing struggled during the Summer League in Las Vegas, and apparently couldn't convince new Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni that he possessed the offensive skills to play at the next level. He has been with the Bighorns ever since, opting to remain stateside and improve his skills rather than attempt to play overseas.

And right now, according to members of the Bighorns staff, Ewing is their best player. He still struggles with his three-point shot and isn't an exceptional ballhandler, but his playmaking is improving, he is consistently hitting the 10-15 foot jumper, his defense and work ethic terrific. During Monday's practice, Ewing, Greene and newcomer Gerry McNamara were the last players on the court.

Bighorns coach Jay Humphries is convinced Ewing - a free agent - will be called up by somebody before the season ends.


More on the mouthpiece

Greene, who averaged 33 minutes in his first two games with the Bighorns, and figures to get another 30 or so in Tuesday's 11 a.m. tipoff (some youth promotion), kept his mouthguard in place - in his mouth - during Monday's practice. In one of the more hilarious moments Sunday, the rookie, who was sucking wind big-time Sunday during the second game of a back-to-back, left his mouthguard hanging from his lower lip during a jump ball sequence. For pure entertainment value, I sitll liked the one where he was holding the apparatus while attempting to catch a pass. I'm not sure Kings officials would be so keen about his casual on-court demeanor, however, Unfortunately, I was unable to get a quote from player development director Fat Lever or assistant coach Shareef Abdur-Rahim before they left for Sac.


Not that I wasn't intrigued before, but after watching the Kings lose to the Miami Heat in OT earlier tonight, I can't wait to hear Pete Carril's thoughts on the lack of ball movement, hard screens and backdoor cuts - once a staple of the offense. "Coachie," as everyone has probably heard by now, is returning to the Kings (for a third time) as a consultant.He makes his first appearance at Saturday's practice.

With Beno Udrih in a miserable slump, rookie backup Bobby Brown in a miserable slump, and Bobby Jackson limited by old age (35), I wouldn't be surprised to see Kenny Natt using Brad Miller and Spencer Hawes to facilitate the offense, usually from the high post. Miller is the easily the Kings' best passer, and these past few weeks, has been playing more like he did last season.

The point guards production against the Heat was pretty scary: Udrih, Brown and Jackson combined for five five goals in 20 attempts, and only seven assists.


Eager to play ... somewhere


During halftime of the Kings-Heat game earlier this evening, I chatted with rookie Donte Greene, who will be joining the NBA Developmental League's franchise in Reno. Greene for an undetermined period of time. To his credit, the rookie out of Syracuse seems genuinely excited about the opportunity to get some serious playing. The Bighorns play tonight, Sunday at 3 p.m., and again on Tuesday, and from what I'm hearing, coach Jay Humphries plans to play the 6-foot-10 small forward huge minutes. This will be an interesting experiment for the Kings. Geoff Petrie has always seemed a little skeptical about the NBDL, but given the inexperience of so many of today's rookies and second-year players, it just seems to make too much sense. Greene was just wasting away on the Kings bench, playing sparingly because of the crowd at small forward. Plus, while he has an absolutely beautiful high-arching jumper, he has looked completely lost on defense. A few weeks with Humphries and Coach T - yes, Tom Abatemarco is an assistant - can work to his benefit.

Final thought

This Beno issue? I'm thinking, maybe it's time to contact a sports psychologist. I will never understand why so many NBA executives, whose owners spent millions on the strength and conditioning of their players, ignore the mental aspects. Seriously. Couches are pretty cheap these days.

January 9, 2009
Bobby Jackson speaks up

Because of space limitations, I was unable to include Bobby Jackson's comments about interim Kings coach Kenny Natt in my column that ran in today's Bee. But since the veteran guard invariably has something interesting to say, I wanted to revisit them before tonight's game against the Miami Heat. In essence, he endorsed Natt's tendency toward the quick hook, as well as his approach to discipline.

"If you're not doing the things to help us win games, then you've got to come out," Jackson began. "I like what he's (Natt) doing. I respect him a lot. I think that's the way you have to be. When a guy isn't performing the way you expect, then he has to come sit down. When I become a coach, I'm going to do the same thing. You can't let guys think it's OK to play like that (selfishly), with everybody looking to shoot the ball. We're not a selfish team, but everybody feels the pressure of losing. Everybody wants to step up and make the big shot. They end up making a mistake instead of making the simple play. Here, it's about guys wanting to score instead of making the extra pass, thinking of the team concept. But, hey, you're not always going to shoot well. You can't always control that. But you can control your effort on rebounding, on defense. You can control whether you hustle."

More from Jackson: "I've never experienced anything like this, except maybe my rookie year, where it's all about offense, and guys don't try to play defense. Hopefully that changes."

And one final offering, this one about Kevin Martin's scoring spree, his return to the starting lineup and status as the team's No.1 scoring option: "We're playing harder, but we've got Kevin back. Some guys might not be happy that he's taking shots away from them, but when he's scoring that efficient, man, what can you say"

December 29, 2008
Hitting the books

The Kings' blowout loss to the Celtics earlier tonight was so perplexing that I came home and started going through my old media guides, trying to determine if I had ever witnessed a more one-sided performance. I started at the beginning, with my first year as an NBA beat writer covering the 1981-82 San Diego Clippers, who under first-year owner Donald Sterling won a grand total of 17 games. Interestingly, when I went through the roster, I was struck by the fact that the league's second-worst team featured eight scorers in double figures, led by rookie forward Tom Chambers. The roster also featured Michael Brooks, Brian Taylor, Swen Nater, Jerome Whitehead, Freeman Williams, Joe (Jellybean) Bryant, Armond Hill, and the late Phil Smith, one of the most gracious athletes I have ever known.

The 1982-83 Clips won a whopping 25 games, yet when you consider the talent, it bolsters the argument that a 23-team NBA - which at the time only allowed an occasional underclassman to enter under hardship terms - provided a better product because the players went to college and were more polished when they entered the league. Additionally, with seven fewer franchises, the talent level wasn't so diluted. Consider that the '82-83 Clips, who again finished 22nd of the 23 teams, included Chambers, Brooks, Terry Cummings, Lionel Hollins, Craig Hodges, Randy Smith, Bobby Gross, Whitehead and Bill Walton, who attended law school at Stanford during the week and played basketball on the weekends.

As for figuring out whether I have seen a worse thumping than Sunday? I'm not sure. I still have some research to do. I've seen a lot of really bad basketball. Still. This one was a beauty. When an opponent is blocking your jump shots, as did the Celtics a number of times Sunday, you know you're in deep, deep trouble.


The Carril Connection

Though I didn't make the connection at the time, two of Pete Carril's former Princeton stars were on that woeful 1981-82 Clippers team - guards Armond Hill and Brian Taylor. Hill is currently an assistant on Doc Rivers' staff. Geoff Petrie, as we know, spends most of his time at the practice facility across the way from Arco Arena.

Right now, I'd say Armond has the sweeter gig.


Can't get enough of this


Practice should be interesting on Monday. I am curious to hear what interim coach Kenny Natt emphasizes. His team can't shoot, won't pass, doesn't rebound, doesn't defend. I think I'd start with the defense, though.

December 21, 2008
Trade talks inevitable

After learning from my colleague, Sam Amick, that a Brad Miller-Gerald Wallace trade was a non-starter partly because Charlotte coach Larry Brown is not a fan of the Kings' starting center, I was reminded of my conversation with Brown while he was trying to become involved in the post-Eric Musselman coaching search two summers ago. Humiliated by the Knicks situation, eager to redeem himself, and not finding much interest on the NBA market, he was pushing hard to get an interview with Geoff Petrie. While we were talking about the situation, Brown, who had rejoined the 76ers as a personnel consultant, began gushing about a gangly 7-foot center from Washington - Spencer Hawes - who had been in Philadelphia hours earlier for a predraft workout. Brown went on and on about Hawes' footwork and low post skills, and thought that with quality coaching, he would become an outstanding NBA center.

All of which is another reason Geoff Petrie at least should have invited Brown to Sacramento for an interview. The Maloofs love the big names and dynamic personalities, though whether they would have met Brown's financial demands remains unclear. Still, you have to wonder. How much further along would the Kings' rebuilding process be with Brown tutoring Hawes, Jason Thompson, Donte Greene, Bobby Brown, Beno Udrih and John Salmons? And while Brown might not be a Miller fan, he would have been a big fan of Miller's unselfishness and passing abilities. (Remember Rik Smits).


Is that you, Vlade?.

During my conversation with Vlade Divac the other evening, I teased him about his English. It's slipping, understandably. After retiring from the NBA in 2005, the former Kings center spent two years in Madrid before moving last September to his native Serbia, which afforded him fewer opportunities to practice his second language. As we were chatting, he paused often and occasionally struggled for words. "It comes back quickly," said Divac, who spoke absolutely no English when he was drafted by the Lakers in 1989. "A couple days (in America). That's all it would take. It's easier (laugh) for my kids."

In an unsually chatty, upbeat postgame locker room - a common occurrence when one head coach has been replaced by another - I was talking with Bobby Jackson, who dropped one of the most unexpected nuggets of the night: This was the first time in his 12 NBA seasons that he has experienced an in-season firing. "It's kind of strange, now that I think about it," he said. "I was wondering how guys were going to take it. But we responded. Hopefully we can continue to come out and play the type of basketball we're capable of."
Brad Miller, the longest-tenured King, now in his 11th year and his sixth in Sacramento, also noted that he has been on only two teams that changed head coaches. "Dave Cowens quit when I was in Charlotte," said Miller, "so I don't even know if that counts."
Then there were Jason Thompson, Donte Greene and Bobby Brown. The rookies are only 25 games into their NBA careers, and their coach is a goner.
Life in the NBA. Welcome to it.


The guessing game begins


Kenny Natt could pull off a major upset here, guide the Kings into the postseason, develop Spencer Hawes into Bill Walton and Jason Thompson into Karl Malone - OK, just kidding - and keep his job at season's end. But the odds and NBA history suggests otherwise. There will be too many established head coaches available during the offseason, with the Kings' front-office types particularly enamored of Flip Saunders. You know. Experienced. Innovative offense. Excellent teacher.
Of course, the historic pre-Xmas flurry of six firings suggests Saunders will be a hot commodity in the offseason. So here's the question: other than the millions to be earned, who would want this job? OK. Never mind. Can't feel too sorry for millionaires in this economy ...


A few other postgame reflections:

* First of all, those were the Minnesota Timberwolves, on the second night of a back-to-back, who the Kings victimized Monday night at Arco Arena. So don't schedule the party just yet.
* Donte Greene has an absolutely beautiful, high-arching jump shot. He says he has favored the hang-time since boyhood. His defense is another matter. "But I'm getting better," he insists. "This is all new to me. In college (Syracuse), we played nothing but zone. This is all new to me."
* When Hawes commits to defending and rebounding, as he did Monday night, he is an incredibly valuable asset. I keep reminding myself: This is a kid who is 7-foot-1, who completely transformed his body during the offseason, who clearly wants to be great, and who is only 20 years old. If he doesn't lose his edge, his desire and his willingness to learn, he will become a special player in this league. Who knew? A steal at No. 10 in the 2007 NBA draft.
* Natt had only a few hours to prepare his team for the game, and typically, teams get energized by coaching changes. But after a sluggish start, the Kings definitely played some of the most inspired defense in a while - excluding last week's Lakers game at Arco - and eased into their early offense. John Salmons' defense was particularly noteworthy, almost offsetting his tendency to dribble into a crowd and dominate the ball. I will be curious to see if Natt challenges Salmons, demanding that he become a more willing passer.
* Reggie will be missed. He was an incredibly bright, classy guy to deal with, even as the pressure intensified. I definitely see him resurfacing somewhere as a head coach, probably in college. What mother could resist his charms as a recruiter?
* I still don't understand why Chuck Person, who was Reggie's de facto lead assistant, was in charge of the defense. Person was one of the league's great scorers during his career, and the league's Rookie of the Year in 1987. True, he was a tough, physical player, and a tireless worker. But wouldn't it have made more sense for him to oversee the offense?
* Natt has one advantage: He has a quality locker room. Aside from the occasional grumbling from a veteran who wants more minutes, there isn't much not to like.
* Most impressive about Monday's victory? The Kings competed. These last few weeks, it wasn't the won-lost percentage that doomed Theus, but the tenor of the lopsided defeats. When players stop giving an effort, their coaches are soon to be history.
* With Jack Nicholson in town for his induction into the California Hall of Fame, I couldn't help but think about the time Jack mooned the crowd from his lower balcony seat during the Lakers-Celtics Finals. Was it 1987? Anyway, as he probably would attest, the passion of the old Boston Garden crowds has yet to be duplicated. The ovation was so loud, it drowned out the second half of the national anthem. Sorry, Kings fans, or those who not so long ago were regarded as the most impassioned in the league. Not even close ...


Nice timing, Kevin

Kevin McHale, who already looks exhausted mere weeks into his gig as the Wolves' head coach, endured a miserable loss on the same night his old club, the Celtics, tied the record for the best 25-game start (23-2) in league history. I couldn't help but recall McHale's role in what I still consider to be one of the most impressive feats I've encountered in my decades of covering the NBA: the Celtics' 40-1 home mark during their championship 1985-86 season. McHale, who was not only an incredibly unique power forward, with his long arms, inimitable post moves and terrific defense, but a gutsy performer. He was also known as the "Black Hole," but that's another story. The following season, he played on a broken foot during the Celtics-Lakers championship series. As a result, he still limps noticeably. Maybe old school wasn't always so great.

December 15, 2008
Reggie leaves without a whine

I just spoke with Reggie Theus about his firing earlier in the day, and he remained consistent to the end. He was upbeat, gracious, and grateful to have been given the opportunity to coach an NBA club after only two years as a college head coach. But Theus remains convinced he accomplished what was asked of him, namely, develop the young players, implement a system and keep the locker room intact.

"It's like arguing with the referee after he calls the foul," Theus said while driving. "There's no point in going through everything. It doesn't matter. I can see it one way, but they obviously are seeing it differently. Given the injuries to Kevin (Martin) and Cisco (Garcia), I thought we did a pretty good job. Taking over a team that was struggling in the first place, we knew it was a daunting challenge, but when I look in the mirror, I think we did the best we could. I'm just sad I won't be here to see it through. They've got good young players. They've got money (salary cap relief) coming."

Theus said he was approached by Petrie early Monday when he arrived for the pregame shootaround. He said they had a cordial conversation for about 20 minutes, and then he left. He plans to return to his home in Los Angeles within the next few days, then start considering his future. Not surprisingly, Theus did not sound worried about obtaining another head-coaching job, and said he would be receptive to coaching in the NBA or college. There already have been murmurings about Theus returning to college coaching - a notion he frequently mentions - because of his previous success at New Mexico State. Thus, he was careful with his comments, and obviously has no intention of burning bridges.

The closest he came to a parting shot was this:

"Things around here tend to be on the negative side. That's the one thing I hope that changes. You have to pull for each other in an organization on all levels."

December 13, 2008
Grumbling in the kingdom ...

It didn't take long for all the goodwill generated with the Kings' victory over the Lakers last Tuesday to dissipate. Saturday night's crowd at Arco Arena was uncharacteristically brutal. If you didn't know better, you would have sworn the Kings were playing the Knicks in New York. As the Kings were being hammered 43-21 in the opening period, Reggie Theus turned toward one particularly vocal group seated behind the press table and asked, in his classic, controlled manner, "Do you guys like those seats?" That shut the guys up for a few minutes, but they were back at it after intermission. They blasted the Kings for being "soft," for that 17-3 drubbing on the boards in the first quarter, for their indefensible defense - most notably the inability to defend the three-point shot - and stayed on Theus throughout.

"Thank god they sell beer," cracked one of the fans, a longtime Kings partisan from Walnut Creek. "This is unwatchable."

As for the offense? It's probably a good thing Pete Carril returns home to Princeton on Monday. The legendary "Coachie," who has been in town for his annual visit with his doctors, must have become ill watching the "my turn, your turn" sequences, along with the Kings' chronic dribble, dribble, dribble tendencies. What ever happened to movement, hard screens and the extra pass?

Whither Brad Miller?

Sam Amick, The Bee's Kings beat writer who wrote about Brad Miller for Sunday's editions, has impeccable timing. Miller is a mess. There is little doubt that the veteran center, a two-time All-Star, is struggling with both his game and his role. For the first time since he became a starter in the post-Vlade Divac era, he was removed from the lineup at intermission. Spencer Hawes slid over to center, and rookie Jason Thompson started the third quarter at power forward. But Miller is a sensitive guy and a very capable player, and I suspect all this talk about the rebuilding/youth movement has him unsettled, especially since the five-game suspension (for violating the league's substance abuse policy) started his season off horribly. Even before last night's four-point, one-rebound, 11-minute first half, his playing time and production have been increasingly inconsistent, his rebounding most noticeably. He seems to be getting pushed around under the basket, and on the offensive end, he has been tentative with his perimeter shot and his once-scintillating passes. When Miller's sharp, he's the best passing center in the league. Too often this year, though, his bounce passes have been late, or forced. He seems out of sorts, discouraged. Someone in the front office might want to talk to him and ask what's going on, or better yet, offer some clarity.


Seeking a breather

Before Saturday's game, I spent about 15 minutes chatting with Mike D'Antoni, the New York Knicks coach (and former Italian League scoring star), about his move from Phoenix to New York and his offseason spent as one of Mike Krzyzewski's assistants with the U.S. Olympic team. While there is no doubt that USA Basketball czar Jerry Colangelo is hoping for a Coach K encore in London 2012, D'Antoni said he needs a break from USA hoops. He has a son in high school, he noted, and it's not like coaching the Knicks is a stroll in the park.

If Krzyzewski decides that coaching one gold medal team is enough? Just a guess here, but that might make things interesting. London isn't Italy, but it's close.

I called Joe Maloof a few minutes ago to see how he was feeling, and he immediately picked up his cell phone. That's always a good sign. He also was breathing hard, so for a few minutes there, I wondered what the heck he was doing.

As it turns out, he was working with the physical therapist who has been helping him recover from double-knee replacement surgery. Of greater significance, Joe confirmed that he did in fact have a stroke last week. "Just a mild one, a mild one," the Kings co-owner informed me. "I'm fine. I just have to get back to working out consistently, which I wasn't doing because of my knees. But I'm so much better now. I'm coming back to Sac in a few days, and I'll be around. I'm feeling so good now I can hardly believe it."

And, of course, he was in a great mood because the Kings beat the Lakers on Tuesday night. "I loved the way we played," he gushed. "We passed the ball, we defended. The youngsters played a lot. That might have been the most important regular-season win since we bought the team, given the circumstances (Reggie Theus' status, slumping attendance and fan interest, the economy, etc.). I am really happy for Reggie. Maybe we can get on a roll. We're not out of it yet."

With that, he went back to pumping iron, or whatever one does in physical therapy.

December 10, 2008
Midway into Rivalry Week

Watching Bobby Jackson against the Lakers last night reminded me of his performance in Game 7 of the 2002 Western Conference finals here at Arco Arena. A younger, thinner Jackson - I'm guessing he was 10 pounds lighter - repeatedly and successfully attacked the Lakers defense, and unlike some of his former teammates, wasn't overcome by the magnitude of the moment. I still believe the outcome might have been different if Jackson had been on the floor during the deciding moments, or about the time Doug Christie and Peja Stojakovic were hoisting airballs.

In the Kings' improbable victory Tuesday night, Jackson contributed 15 points in a similar, aggressive manner, mostly by driving the ball or pulling up in transition and converting off-balance, high-arching jumpers. He has been struggling of late, and not very happy about his playing time. But he looked a lot younger than his 35 years last night. He had more help than usual, as well. As he noted afterward, "I remember the 'old' Sacramento Kings used to have six players in double figures every game. ... We haven't played like this all year. We're young, but we have a lot better talent than our (record suggests)."

In a game Reggie Theus desperately needed to win to soothe some of the "fire Reggie" sentiment that has been building, the Kings received contributions from everyone who played. John Salmons was particularly impressive. He defended Kobe Bryant and played an excellent floor game, eschewing the one-on-one play that so often detracts from his overall abilities.


It's in the genes

After my colleague, Sam Amick, alerted me to Joe Maloof's recent illness - what initially was thought to be a stroke - I approached Gavin Maloof for more details. He said Joe was hospitalized overnight about a week ago in Las Vegas, but passed all the tests, and was released the following day. He suggested that his brother's illness was stress-related, which is not exactly uncommon. Not long after the Maloofs bought the Kings almost a decade ago, Joe shared a story that speaks to his intensity: After his father died in the early 1980s, he and his mother approached members of the Coors family and asked if they could continue running the company's beer distributorship in New Mexico. At the time, Colleen Maloof was a homemaker, not a businesswoman, and Joe and Gavin were 24 and 23 years old, respectively.

Anyway, Joe said Adolph Coors agreed to let Colleen keep the distributorship, but that a short time later, he became so anxiety-ridden that he was hospitalized and diagnosed with an ulcer.

In his few visits to Arco Arena this year, Joe hasn't looked well. He is recovering slowly from the double-knee replacement surgery he underwent in August, and which he only half-jokingly called "the worst decision of my life." He has lost approximately 30 pounds, and not only can't work out, but only recently shed the cane and walker.

"He's OK," Gavin said. "It was a scare, but he's OK. He's just had a tough time of it lately."

Friday night could be frightful

Just a hunch here, but the rematch between the Kings and Lakers on Friday at Staples Center might reveal a lot about the Kings, for this reason: the Lakers won't take Tuesday's season-worst defeat lightly. They will go at the Kings hard. If the Kings respond well and make a game of it, that would suggest Tuesday's impressive showing was more than an aberration.


Remembering the good times ...

Sometime within the next few weeks, the Kings will announce plans to retire the jerseys of Vlade Divac and Chris Webber during games later this season. The retirement date for Divac appears set: March 31, during pregame festivities when the New Orleans Hornets and fellow Serbia native Peja Stojakovic visit.

The date for Webber's ceremony still is being discussed. The Kings are working to accommodate their former power forward and his business obligations, including his duties as a TNT analyst. The best guess here is sometime in February or early March. Webber, who was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers when the Kings began dismantling the aging, injury-riddled team that was wildly entertaining during the early part of the decade, played briefly for the Detroit Pistons before ending his career last year with his original team, the Golden State Warriors.


Not the retiring type

Although Geoff Petrie has tabled any conversation about a contract extension (his current deal expires at the end of the 2009-2010 season), I was reminded again earlier this afternoon about why I believe another multiyear agreement is inevitable: He is one of those people who would go crazy in retirement. Assuming the Maloofs remain committed - and Petrie continues to wield tremendous influence over at Arco - there is no doubt in my mind that he's not going anywhere. The only other consideration would be his health.

The Kings' longtime basketball president was diagnosed with walking pneumonia last Tuesday and told to stay home and rest for four or five days. Yet there he was while the team was practicing, wandering in the lobby of the facility, and still appearing pale and tired. Asked what he was doing at work, he laughed, and stated the obvious: he was bored. Three days of hanging around the house was the most he could tolerate.


Changing careers

At a chance meeting at a cafe near Arco, I bumped into Edna Campbell, the former Monarchs guard who is also a breast cancer survivor. Campbell, who remained in Sacramento after retiring from the WNBA, said she recently completed her coursework for a nursing degree. She takes her boards next month. Eventually, she hopes to enroll in a master's program to become a nurse practitioner.

"This is a good time for me," said Campbell, who is healthy, and looked fit enough to suit. "I finished school and I turned 40 today."

November 20, 2008
Food for thought

While chatting with Kings conditioning coach Daniel Shapiro for a column in today's Bee about Spencer Hawes and his Body-By-Daniel makeover, I learned about a place near Arco Arena that does all the prep work for meals. Great. As someone who is chronically challenged in the kitchen, I probably needed to hear about this. Anyway, according to Shapiro - or "Shippy," as Hawes calls him - "Dream Dinners" prepares meals for its patrons, suggests ingredients, food groups, health hints, then sells the cuisine ready to cook.

Shapiro says that, on a given day, as many as seven Kings accompany him to the establishment and buy a few days (or months) worth of food. He also credits the concept with helping shave about seven pounds of body fat off the 7-foot, 233-pound Hawes. Gone is the body fat of a year ago. "We've got Spencer eating the meals, and he is eating so much healthier now," Shapiro told me. "It's an economic way of eating. Plus, it eliminates the fast food, which is a big thing with players."

Actually, it isn't only the players who are attracted to the fast food joints near the arena. Many an NBA beat writer has asked directions to the local In-N-Out Burger. Sorry. I have no clue. Never touch the stuff.

Iverson rolling along


While watching Allen Iverson play his third game with the Detroit Pistons, it just seemed unfathomable that he is 33 years old. Given the physical beating that he absorbs nightly? Amazing. I used to marvel at Kevin Johnson's fearlessness during his career with the Phoenix Suns. With his tongue resting on his lower lip, KJ relentlessly and fearlessly attacked the basket and routinely got knocked to the floor. I have all these images of KJ blowing past his defender, converting the basket, taking the hit, and adding the free throw. But he had a few inches and pounds on Iverson. Anyway, it was fascinating to watch the 6-foot, 165-pound AI again, and to say he was really, really good would be ridiculous. He was terrific. His creative, yet controlled performance was exactly what Joe Dumars had in mind when he swapped the steady, stately Chauncey Billups to the Denver Nuggets. "I joked with Iverson the other day," Joe D. told me earlier Tuesday from his office. "I told him, 'I tried to trade for you in 2000, but I'm sure glad I have the 2008 version of Allen Iverson. You were a handful in 2000."

My chat with Dumars also reminded me of what a brassy executive he has become - not at all what most of us who covered the NBA during his playing career would have projected. Joe's game was smooth, steady, understated. He did everything well, and yet somewhat remarkably, recognized exactly what he needed to do to flourish (and win) alongside the dynamic, mercurial Isiah Thomas. But understated no longer. Consider that within the past few years, among other things, Dumars has done the following: Hired and fired Larry Brown; won a championship and been runner-up in the NBA Finals; acquired and contained Rasheed Wallace; hired and fired Flip Saunders; signed and refused to re-sign local product Chris Webber; and drafted and dumped No. 2 pick Darko Milicic. As for that draft clunker, well, even the Logo (Jerry West) missed once in a while.


Typical rookie mistake

Kings rookie Jason Thompson, who had an impressive first NBA start with 15 points and nine boards, was assessed a phantom foul as he elevated and attempted to block a deep baseline jumper by Tayshaun Prince with just under two minutes remaining. True, based on the replays, the power forward never made contact with Prince, except perhaps with a fingernail. Also true, there isn't a rookie in the league who hasn't been suckered into committing that foul. Next time, the 6-foot-11 Thompson needs to jump straight up, denyng the refs the opportunity to claim that he was leaning into the shooter. The rule of verticality applies, as they say, though rookies historically are allowed considerably less wiggle room.

Still, Thompson's candor - "Yeah, they got me on that once in the first half, too" - is another reason to like the potential frontcourt pairing with second-year center Spencer Hawes. I love the fact Thompson didn't whine about the call afterward, but instead talked about how he would react in the future. The more time I spend chatting with opposing scouts and coaches, the more I think the Hawes-Thompson pairing has the potential to be something special.

In other words, I don't think Geoff Petrie is disappointed that, say, Joakim Noah didn't "drop" to the Kings two drafts ago. As one coach told me recently, "the Kings got the better player" in the less celebrated Hawes. At this point, it certainly appears so. Hawes, who is only 20, has length, skill, attitude, and will gain physical strength as he matures. He couldn't ask for a better mentor than Brad Miller, either.


Miller off target, on point

Miller endured the worst shooting night that I can remember. His 2-for-16 effort featured every shot imaginable: blown chippies and dunks, botched driving layups, mostly, the short-arming of jumpers he normally hits. Yet though he struggled from the field, he scored with his insightful postgame analysis, as usual. "It was a little tough and it was a twist without having Kevin (Martin) playing," the veteran center said. "He is the guy who gets all of our free-throw attempts for us and slows them down. We were aggressive early on, pushing the ball. You can't really get into a halfcourt game with the Pistons because they know how to lock it down and get the extra help."

Unfortunately for the Kings, after they built their early 15-point lead, they seemed to sit on it. They stopped pushing the pace, and instead of advancing the ball quickly and getting into their early offense, they were left with Reggie Theus calling plays on virtually every possession. I didn't get a chance to speak with Reggie afterward because I was in the visitors locker room waiting to speak with Iverson, but it seemed odd, even given the injuries. Late in the game, Reggie just seemed determined to pound the ball inside to his post players, getting away from an effective pick-and-roll. I'll ask him about this when the Kings return from their road trip to the Clip Joint. I remain a firm believer that the Kings need to create transition opportunities, play at a faster pace, and utilize their athleticism and youthful energy if they want to ensure an interesting season. As we continue to see, they have plenty of talent to do that. To make this an interesting season.

Memories, memories, memories ....

This little tidbit is provided by Kings backup beat writer Melody Gutierrez: While chatting with Mikki Moore before the game, with a previous Kings-Pistons meeting on the television in the background, the one-time Pistons forward chuckled when Detroit coach Michael Curry's image flashed on the screen. "That let me know it's about time to retire and enjoy my money," Moore said jokingly. "He was actually my veteran. He helped me get through my stuff just like try to help J.T. (Thompson), Donte (Greene) and Bobby Brown. It's good to see he got the job. He worked very hard." Asked whether he envisions a similar career path, Moore shook his head. Yes and no. He envisions himself coaching, but is more intrigued with junior college, high school or the NBA Development League.

November 6, 2008
Opening night musings ...

Jay Humphries, the head coach of Reno's NBDL's expansion team, attended the home opener last night and met briefly with Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie. The Kings and Knicks are affiliates of the Reno franchise, which will enable Petrie to send rookies or second-year players down to the minor league setting for experience and closely monitor their progress. (Donte Greene, anyone?). The NBDL is also the developmental league for future NBA head coaches, similar to the defunct CBA that once featured head coaches Phil Jackson, George Karl and Flip Saunders, among others. It's hard to imagine Our Friend Phil hooping it up with the Albany Patroons, but he won titles there, too.

Anyway, Humphries, accompanied by his new assistant and current Monarchs assistant Tom Abatemarco, said he was eager to establish a relationship with Petrie.

"I wanted Geoff to know where I was coming from," said Humphries, who played 11 years in the NBA and coached for six seasons in Asia. "I plan to run a lot of the Phoenix Suns sets, and play aggressive defense. That's the philosophy I've always believed. I told Geoff I'm looking forward to doing whatever I can to help out."


Finally casting a vote

Though the family is heavily involved in Democratic politics, Joe and Gavin Maloof refused to publicly align themselves with Heather Fargo or Kevin Johnson during the recently concluded mayoral race. But let's just say, it wasn't a coincidence that KJ was seated courtside next to Gavin Maloof during Wednesday's season opener in Arco Arena. Sacramento's mayor-elect, who arrived shortly before tipoff, walked up to the owner's suite and chatted with Joe Maloof, still hobbled after undergoing double knee replacement surgery. Johnson then went back downstairs and joined Gavin, front and center.

The Maloofs - who revered the late Sacramento mayor Joe Serna - never believed Fargo was emotionally invested in their attempts toward securing a public/private financing agreement for any of the discussed arena ventures. Right, wrong, whatever. They never moved beyond their initial impressions of the outgoing mayor. Interestingly, KJ, who kept his distance from the arena discussions while he was pursuing a charter school for Sac High - surprising given his obvious connection to the NBA - has emerged as a forceful advocate for an arena deal. The former Phoenix Suns point guard repeatedly has said that securing the Kings' presence in Sacramento is among his priorities, often citing the club's economic and psychic value to the community. That will require construction of a modern facility, at some point in the near future, or whenever the economy allows.

As an aside: My Bee colleague, Sam Amick, turned to me during the game and suggested that you can't appreciate how outdated Arco is - in terms of the acoustics, big screen capabilities, concourse, and all-around amenities and comfort level - until you travel to the other venues around the league.

I don't disagree. Arco has sprouted too many hairs - and too many leaks. But a $10 seat at Arco offers a much better value than what you get at the newer, bigger arenas. At Staples Center, they ought to dispense oxygen tanks to those in the nosebleed seats. Or at least binoculars.

Final thoughts about the opener ...

* I have commented often about John Salmons' tendency to pound the ball, but against the Grizzlies, he was the best player on the court. He demonstrated once again that he is much too skilled to become one-dimensional. This was one of the best games he's played since joining the Kings. He keyed the defense up top (often with double-team help from rookie Jason Thompson), made his moves quickly or gave the ball up, pursued rebounds and loose balls, and in general, provided the sense of leadership have been so sorely lacking.

* Beno Udrih continues to struggle, which leads me to relate tidbits from a conversation I had recently wiith an NBA scout. The scout - who shall remain nameless, for obvious reasons - asked if the Kings' point guard was hurt. He thought something was wrong. My take on Beno is this: he missed most of training camp with a strained hip and is playing his way into shape. He seems a half-step slow. His timing is off. And his confidence appears to be shaken. He had two excellent drives in the second half, though, so maybe that will give him a boost.

* I'm looking forward to Friday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, mostly, to see Wolves rookie Kevin Love and his probable matchup against Kings rookie Jason Thompson. I think we're going to be hearing a lot about these two power forwards during the next decade.

* While Bobby Jackson remains one of my favorite people, I agree with Reggie Theus' decision to use Bobby Brown as the backup point guard. Bobby Jax doesn't seem to have much left, except, perhaps, the unwavering affection of the fans. He received a standing ovation when he entered the game.

* What WAS the name of that rock band that played during introductions? Never mind. Don't want to know. Don't ever want to hear them again. I always hated hard rock ...

* My favorite stat of the night: the Kings' 24 assists

* No surprise at the non-sellout numbers. A Wednesday night opener. Against the Memphis Grizzlies. The night after the election. One thing I found interesting, though, was that the upper bowl was almost full. Most of the empty pockets of seats were in the corner sections of the lower bowl, which suggests two things: (1) Fans are responding to reduced ticket prices for upper bowl seats, and (2) The corner sections in the lower bowl offer the least advantageous sight lines, and apparently, are overpriced.

* Theus and Humphries have been friends since their teen years in Southern California

* One last observation about Thompson, the rookie from Rider: He has exceptional hands.

OAKLAND - The season hasn't even begun over here yet, and it's already crazy. Don Nelson signed his contract extension. Al Harrington reportedly is demanding a trade. No one knows what Chris Mullin is thinking, or more importantly, what Chris Cohan has planned for his vice president. (The two clash over personnel matters). And if that's not enough, the starting point guard tonight against the New Orleans Hornets - former Sheldon High standout DeMarcus Nelson - a few weeks ago wasn't even expected to make the regular-season roster.

So stay tuned. Or tune out. This figures to be a very, very, very long season for the Warriors.

As an aside: Warriors assistant Stephen Silas told me his father, Paul, who was one of the game's best rebounders during his playing career, is recovering from a nine-month battle for his life. According to Stephen, Paul Silas went in for a routine colonoscopy in December, but suffered complications and went into organ failure. He was in intensive care for two months, in the hospital in Charlotte for two months after that, before finally being released. "He was out here last week," said the Warriors assistant, "and he's still walking slowly. But he's getting around a little bit. This is the best he's been since the (procedure)."


With the Kings only hours away from their season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a few thoughts:
* These Kings desperately need a renewed commitment to defense, which is what inspired a competitive, impressive start a year ago. The ability to score off the defense will determine whether the Kings are lottery-bound by midseason or capable of a surprise run at a playoff berth.
* The Clippers, Warriors and Kings should form a three-team scrum in the Pacific Division behind the Lakers and Suns. If Spencer Hawes and Kevin Martin consistently stretch for rebounds, I wouldn't be surprised if the Kings finish ahead of the Clips and Warriors. That says nothing about playoffs, however. Can't even talk about that until we see a semblance of a disruptive defense.
* Who will Kevin Martin be? Is he an elite scorer, a la Peja Stojakovic, or capable of becoming a more versatile contributor? During a conversation with Houston's Tracy McGrady the other night, T-Mac praised Martin for his offensive abilities, but left it at that. He noted that the league has plenty of prolific scorers, but not an overabundance of all-around performers. Can't disagree. I think the slinky, athletic Martin is capable of collecting 4-5 rebounds per game, and though not a particularly gifted passer, is more than athletic and capable enough of getting into the passing lanes and coming out with a decent number of steals.
* I want to see more of Jason Thompson. The rookie power forward is an instinctive passer, and I like the way he pursues the ball. The frontcourt combination of Hawes and Thompson offers something to build on, and assuming Beno Udrih emerges as a capable, consistent point guard, Geoff Petrie's next great challenge is to find the complementary small forward. Is it Donte Greene? Much too soon to tell. But based on Greene's struggles during preseason, he would benefit from a season under Jay Humphries in the NBA Development League. Reno isn't that far away ...
* Brad Miller must be miserable. He is in terrific shape, perhaps the best of his career, and he has to sit out the first five games after being suspended for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Dumb. Really dumb. At least he didn't sit around sulking and gaining weight. He really does look good, and I suspect he will have a very productive season.
* How John Salmons is the Kings' best perimeter defender, and I'm wondering when he is going to understand this and stop fixating on offense. The way he brooded after becoming Ron Artest's backup last season was ridiculous. The way he dominates the ball and disrupts the offense is absurd. Salmons is a much better player than that. We watched him record triple-doubles two seasons ago. He CAN pass. But it's up to Theus - and to a lesser extent Udrih - to establish his role and demand that he move the ball.
* Martin should be afforded a minimum of 15 shots per game. If the offense is flowing, that number should be closer to 20. And it should be openly acknowledged that the veteran shooting guard is the Kings' go-to player.


Why hang around?

I am looking forward to talking to Don Nelson before Wednesday night's Warriors-Hornets game in Oakland, mostly to ask Nellie why he would want to prolong his coaching agony with a team that has no chance of winning his elusive NBA title. (He has five as a player with the Boston Celtics). But, duh. Where have I been? Apart from the fact that everyone is seeking job security during this economic downturn, Nellie needs only 53 victories to surpass Lenny Wilkens' as the league's winningest coach.

Yes, that matters. There is no shortage of ego in the NBA. Nellie will need two seasons to pass Wilkens, hence, his desire for the two-year extension, the Chris Mullin-Robert Rowell standoff notwithstanding. Well, why not? Wilkens and Nelson are among the league's aging coaching giants, and they deserve the chance to be recognized.


He will be missed

It's disappointing to no longer have Del Campo's Matt Barnes with the Warriors, but after his traumatic 2007-08, he obviously needed a change. He never seemed to emotionally recover from the loss of his mother, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer before the season started, and had completely lost his edge by the end of the year. During one of my visits to Oakland in April, I was shocked at the 6-foot-7 swingman's appearance. He had lost much of his upper body definition, and barely resembled the lean, athletic journeyman who enjoyed such a marvelous 2007-08. I will be curious to catch up with him when the Phoenix Suns visit.


The microfracture curse?

Greg Oden leaves with a sprained right foot a mere 13 minutes into his NBA regular-season debut Tuesday night, and what are we all thinking? The dreaded mIrcrofracture surgery. I completely agree with Geoff Petrie about this. Lighter is better. Players who undergo the controversial procedure that is designed to develop a protective buffer between the joints - much as cartilage functions - seem to fare better with slimmer frames, rather than heavier and more muscular physiques. I know the Blazers urged Oden to lose weight after his rehab, but he still looks too heavy to me. That's one reason I like what the Kings are doing with Spencer Hawes. They are urging him to become more flexible and stronger in his core, not simply asking him to add upper body muscle mass. Less stress on the knee is better.


Bring out the snow tires

Monarchs assistant and Kings radio analyst Tom Abatemarco is close to finalizing a deal to join Jay Humphries' coaching staff for the Reno Bighorns' inaugural season in the NBA Development League. If the deal materializes - and all indications are it will - the man known around town as "Coach T" will remain on Jenny Boucek's Monarchs staff, but drop the Kings radio gig.

Humphries, who played in the NBA for 11 seasons after being drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1984, was looking for an assistant with considerable experience, and in that sense, Coach T certainly qualifies. A former head coach at Drake, Lamar and Sacramento State, the New York native also has been an assistant for two of college basketball's best minds - the late Jim Valvano and, most recently, former Utah head coach Rick Majerus.

The major downside here will be Abatemarco's absence on the Kings' postgame radio shows. His analysis is candid and informative, without being overly technical. Initially, he was a bit of a homer - overly conscious of not offending the hypersensitive Rick Adelman or ticking off any of the players - but his observations and insights have become increasingly daring and enlightening. I'll definitely miss his no-nonsense spin on the Kings.


A shout out to Cotton

Humphries is an interesting head-coaching choice for Reno owner David Kahn. Before spending the last few seasons as an NBA assistant in Phoenix and Denver, Humphries spent several years coaching in South Korea and China. He is a very charming, interesting fellow. I will always remember bumping into him at an airport - I can't even remember which one - in the late 1980s, and asking what it was like to play for the late Cotton Fitzsimmons during his first three years in the league. Humphries just laughed and shook his head. "Playing for Cotton is like being locked in a cage with a Tazmanian devil," he said, adding, "but he's a helluva coach."


Just can't forget Cotton

The diminutive Fitzsimmons - he of the gravel voice and barrel-chested laugh - is best remembered for his years coaching the Phoenix Suns. But my first impression connects Cotton with the Kansas City Kings: My first road game covering the Clippers for the San Diego Union was at the half-empty Kemper Arena. After the predictable outcome - Clippers lost - my former competitor from the Los Angeles Times, Chris Cobbs, and I waited for Cotton in the interview room. Taking mercy on a rookie NBA reporter, Chris advised me to check the battery on my tape recorder. "Just sit back and listen," he said, grinning. It didn't take long to figure out what he was talking about. Cotton didn't wait for questions. Cotton was on stage. He was scripted, Hollywood, all about theatrics. And absolutely fascinating.

What a character. Too bad the Kings never brought him West.

Back in their seats

Now that the Boston Red Sox and Woodland native Dustin Pedroia have been eliminated from the baseball playoffs, I figured members of the family would be back in their Kings seats for today's final preseason game at Arco Arena. That was the plan. In a quick call to the family's Valley Tire Store in Woodland earlier in the day, Brett Pedroia, Dustin's older brother, said they had missed all the previous preseason games because of a conflict with the baseball playoffs.

"It seemed like every time the Kings were playing, so was Dustin," said Pedroia, who manages the family-owned tire store with his parents, Guy and Debbie. "We went to Dustin's games in Anaheim, and we were planning on going to the World Series, so this was a real disappointment. It was especially tough on my mom. She is so energetic. ... When Dustin hit that home run in Game 7 (against the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS), we thought we were going to win it."

Brett, who routinely converses about the Kings with his sibling - an impassioned fan of his hometown team - offers this assessment of the season: "I'm always the optimist, so I don't agree with people picking us to only win 25 games or so. We have Bobby Jackson. With Kevin Martin, and some of the young players, I think we'll surprise some people. And I think Geoff (Petrie) is going to make a deal that moves us up a little into the playoff picture."


Who wants to know?

Having Jackson back has done wonders for the personality of the locker room. You never know what the veteran guard, now 35, will say. His latest comment/question pertained to Ron Artest's visit. "I wonder if he'll get booed?" Jackson asked, laughing. "We all know what that's like."

October 15, 2008
Back to school daze ...

STOCKTON - Mike Duncan, the Kings' vice-president of arena operations, is counting down his final days with the organization. The personable and respected executive has taken over arena operations at the University of Oregon, which recently broke ground on a state-of-the-art basketball facility. The opening is scheduled for November 2010.

A Sacramento native, Duncan said the decision to leave was difficult, but eased by a sense of familiarity: He graduated from the Eugene campus and spent many an evening enjoying basketball at the outdated McArthur Court, which is known as "The Pit" and one of the least hospitable venues for visitors in the country.

Here's wishing him the best of luck. He is one of few Kings officials who had been with the organization since its inaugural season.


The burden of wearing two hats

Before Wednesday's game at the Spanos Center, I spent time talking with Clips coach/general manager Mike Dunleavy about his expanded role. Though Dunleavy had been responsible for most personnel moves during the past few years anyway, Elgin Baylor's ugly/untimely departure leaves little doubt about who is in charge. It also makes Dunleavy one of the league's few head coaches who oversees player personnel. More often than not, these situations do not end particularly well. The obvious exception is San Antonio's Gregg Popovich, who relies heavily on R.C. Buford, especially for salary cap issues, but still makes the final decisions on trades, drafts and free-agent signings.

Dunleavy, though, who previously served in both capacities with the Milwaukee Bucks, doesn't anticipate a difference in his workload. "Nothing will change much," he said. "We do things by committee. And two other factors have made it (scouting) a lot different today: the addition of DirecTV and the Internet. The availability of information is (extensive) ... everything is out there."


Thinking about life after hoops

Monarchs forward DeMya Walker, who missed most of the WNBA season following knee surgery, after missing much of the previous few seasons with knee injuries, isn't kidding about preparing for the future. Her goal is to play a few more years, then attend law school. Or maybe she'll pursue something in broadcasting before suffering through torts and civil procedure. With that possibility in mind, Walker has been working with the Kings' game operations people, doing some of the little things like ... walking onto the court during timeouts and screaming into the microphone, "Who wants some T-shirts? Who wants some T-shirts? Who wants some T-shirts?"

Guess you have to start somewhere, especially in this economy.



NBA TV works well in West Virginia, too

As I wrote a little earlier, I had an interesting and lengthy chat with Hall of Famer and former Lakers great Jerry West. What am I saying? Every chat with The Logo is interesting, and often fascinating. After reaching him at his vacation home in West Virginia, we talked mostly about his ex-teammate and close friend Elgin Baylor, who was dumped as Clippers GM on Tuesday and replaced by Mike Dunleavy, another West friend. The loyalty to Baylor, though, clearly prevails ...

Anyway, West, who recently celebrated his 70th birthday - if you can believe that - says he is working out daily, is scheduled to return home to L.A.. later this month, and is enjoying his sabbatical from the NBA. And then of course, Jerry being Jerry, he weighed in on the league. And, Jerry being Jerry, he doesn't miss much. He analyzed the Western Conference for me - sorry, most of it was off the record - and when asked about the Kings, volunteered an opinion: He thinks rookie small forward Donte Green is among the league's most talented prospects No surprise there. A la Geoff Petire, West favors skilled, versatile athletes, as opposed to one-dimensional players who are pursued because, say, they're tall, and everyone argues that you need a center. And come on. When West talks, you would be foolish not to listen. The Laker icon - who spent the past four years with the Memphis Grizzlies - is universally regarded as the keenest talent evaluator in league history, his few clunkers notwithstanding.


Coming to you in print

A must read: West also revealed that he has begun writing an autobiography that is scheduled to be completed within 12 months. "It's about my life," he said, adding with a chuckle, "and it's going to include the things that made me borderline insane at times. It will be honest. I'm a complex person. Nothing has ever satisfied me. That's just who I am. It (the book) is going to be truthful, and it's going to be serious."

A significant portion of the book, West said, will deal with his relationship with his former African-American teammates and colleagues during the 1950s and turbulent 60s. "My closest friends were black players," said West, a native of Cabin Creek (or Chelyan) West Virginia, a rural riverside community not far from Charleston. "Maybe it was our (common) backgrounds." He plans to detail his intense, almost sibling relationship with Baylor, who is four years his senior. West absolutely loves the guy. As he talked about Baylor's demise with the Clippers early Wednesday evening, the notoriously emotional West had to pause and collect his thoughts. "I really don't know what's going on," he said, "but it doesn't matter. Elgin and I talk every few weeks. He's a friend of mine. He will always be a friend of mine."

Yep. The guy is complex. And fascinating. And among the game's compelling, enduring characters. I am too young to remember The Logo as as the Lakers shooting guard with the sweet stroke and impeccable timing, but I know him as the NBA exec whose opinion mattered more than anyone else's. Wouldn't surprise me if he resurfaces somewhere as a consultant, his protests nothwithstanding .....


On the market front

West, who virtually jumped through hoops for the Grizzlies in an attempt to kick-start the fledgling small-market franchise, disagrees with the categorization of Sacramento as a similar "small market" organization. "The demographics of the league have changed," he said. "The big markets have a big advantage, a much bigger advantage than they used to. But Sacramento is a growing area, with a captive audience for the Kings. And that's huge. The fans will get a little restless, but the owners (Maloofs) understand that. They'll get it going up there again."

As for that "going through hoops" bit: When I was in Memphis waiting to interview West three years ago, he was participating in a free throw shooting contest with season ticket holders. More than most, he has always understood the need to tend to the people who place their fannies in the seats ...

October 8, 2008
Beno gets lucky ...


Clips snip Elgin, look silly again

In other words, Beno Udrih made a smart move rebuffing the Clippers' initial offer last summer while waiting to hear from the Kings. The Clips have been doomed since Donald Sterling bought the team in 1981, stopped paying his bills in San Diego and elsewhere, and two years later summoned the moving vans for the relocation to Los Angeles. Bad karma follows you everywhere ... (See Al Davis).

More recently, Sterling, who 22 years ago hired Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor as a trophy general manager, only to realize that Elgin is a pretty smart guy, promotes coach MIke Dunleavy and essentially strips Baylor of his power. So, of course, Baylor on Tuesday responds like someone with pride and walks out the door. Welcome to the Clippers. Here comes the next lawsuit.

Meantime, Wednesday was an absolutely fascinating day. Already pretty ticked off about the tenor of Baylor's departure, I contacted the former Lakers great at his home in Los Angeles, and within 45 minutes, also reached Jerry West at his vacation home in West Virginia. All of this, of course, happened close to 6 p.m., with editors offering nasty looks and staring at their watches. But, hey, for Elgin Baylor and Jerry West ... I'll take the hit.

Elgin, who actually returned a phone call (as he graciously did for several of my colleagues). couldn't reveal much on the advice of his attorneys. Hint: that lawsuit looms. But we chatted a little bit about our joint experiences with the Clip Joint in the mid to late 1980s. To summarize: While I was a Clippers beat writer for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner - and before I was rescued by the Lakers - Elgin and I spent many an afternoon sitting in gyms, watching practices and shooting the breeze. Mostly, I listened. As was the case a few years later when I was an NBA columnist who probed the brilliant Lenny Wilkens' brain as often as possible, I couldn't get enough of the stuff. And Elgin was gracious, obliging, insightful, and often hilarious.

A few of my favorite recollections:
* He insisted that Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, etc., consistently palmed the ball, and argued that if he were allowed such liberties, he would have doubled his scoring.
* He never conquered his fear of flying, though he swears he was not among the Lakers who became violently ill during the team's infamous emergency landing in the Midwest.
* He spoke poignantly about how, while growing up in Washington, D.C., he and other African-Americans were banned from the basketball courts during daylight hours. They would wait until dark, then sneak onto the courts and play under the streetlights. It was one reason he was an accomplished football and baseball player, and didn't take up basketball until age 14.
* After accepting a scholarship to the College of Idaho, he took an overnight train to Caldwell, and was petrified because he was alone, and had never ventured far from his hometown.
* He loved the stars. Bird. Magic. Michael. Bill Walton. It drove him crazy that Walton, a one-time Clipper, was sidelined with injuries for most of his career.
* He loves Jerry West. Jerry West loves him. Baylor loved to talk about how, while one of West's older teammates on the Lakers, he nicknamed the West Virginia native, "Zeke from Cabin Creek." West hated the nickname, by the way. While traveling to the region for a story on Belle's Jason Williams, I learned of the heated rivalry that exists among those who claim West as their own. Cabin Creek, where West lived during his youth, is located a few blocks from Chelyan, where West also lived during his youth.
Anyway, when I spoke with West early Wednesday evening, he was somewhere back there in his new resort home on a golf course ... and pretty upset about what happened to his buddy. Say what you will about his acumen as a general manager, but no way Elgin should go out like this. No parade, no celebration, no Elgin Baylor Night. Disgraceful.



For those who might be depressed about the economy, who resent the rich and famous, and right now, are particularly upset with the rich, remember this: Even millionaires can struggle beyond the arc.

In a lighthearted scene at the Kings practice facility Thursday afternon, after most of the players had retreated to the locker room, co-owner Maloof spent about 45 minutes "working" on his outside shot with Kings assistant (and former Indiana Pacers sharpshooter) Chuck Person. Overdressed for the occasion in a pair of worn blue jeans, black T-shirt and jogging shoes, the younger of the co-owners - sweating profusely and repeatedly pulling up his pants - missed most of his mid-range attempts, then stepped behind the line. As predicted, he was more proficient from three-point range. He tossed up a few airballs and a few almost-airballs, but he usually caught the rim.

After releasing his shots, Maloof would turn to Person for guidance. As the two continued, moving their way around the key, I walked over and badgered Person for a quick scouting report on the boss.

"I don't think Mr. Maloof would like that," he replied, with a grin.

"Go ahead, tell her," Gavin interjected.

So here's the critique, as provided by the former NBA star known as The Rifleman: "The first thing you want to do is get him to shoot the ball straight. Not just hm, but anybody. But when we started off, he started with a low arc, with too low a trajectory. We're trying to get him to bring his elbow up, to bring the ball up with more speed, then to use his fingers and follow through. The higher arc promotes air under the ball, which makes the shot softer. 'Elbow high. Fingers follow through. Elbow high. Fingers follow through.' Those are the simplest things to remember."

Learning from The Logo

Person, who grew up in rural Alabama, developed his shooting touch with a little help from Hall of Famer Jerry West. When he was in ninth-grade, Person explained, he attended a basketball camp at Auburn University that featured the former Lakers great as a guest speaker. "I used to bring the ball up high over my head, and shoot with two hands," the second-year Kings assistant said, grabbing a ball and demonstrating. "Jerry West took me aside and changed my (mechanics). He told me to keep my elbows high and to use my fingers on the follow through."

Still seeing red ...

Spencer Hawes spends most of his time living in blue states - his native Washington and California - but remains staunchly Republican. He was eagerly awaiting tonight's debate between vice-presidential candidates Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, but disappointed to learn that the session conflicted with the evening practice. "I can't even tape it," he said, "because we're staying in a hotel. I'm sure it will be on again later, when we get back. I'll catch it on Fox."
"I like Governor Palin," he added. "I think she's going to do fine."
We'll check back for his scorecard later.


Final thoughts on the owner's basketball skills ....

During Gavin's shooting session, he displayed decent ballhandling skills and a nice rotation on his jumper, especially on his deeper shots. He even dribbled between his legs a few times without turning the ball over. Overall, he didn't completely embarrass himself, and he wasn't shy about citing his deficiencies, which was sort of refreshing. But he definitely needs to work on his conditioning and, as he admitted, lose about 30 pounds.

September 30, 2008
Never too soon for hoops


Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who recently retired because of knee problems at age 31, looked a little uncomfortable Monday during media day. The veteran power forward is joining Reggie Theus' coaching staff, primarily to work with the frontcourt players. But he looked as if he would rather be wearing a Kings uniform than a suit and tie - understandably. Who wouldn't prefer to play games for a living rather than worry about preparing scouting reports, analyzing videotapes, worrying about player-coach relations, etc.? Oh, well. It still beats working a real job.

Asked if he should be addressed as "coach," the soft-spoken Abdur-Rahim laughed. "Just call me Shareef."

The former Cal standout was convinced to take the coaching position by Kings president Geoff Petrie, a terrific NBA player who was similarly forced to retire prematurely because of knee problems. Petrie was a co-Rookie of the Year with Dave Cowens, and before he retired age the ridiculous age of 28, established himself as one of the game's great scoring guards. So he can empathize. He also took a different path than Abdur-Rahim. Admittedly emotionally ill-prepared to remain in the NBA in a non-playing capacity, he pursued other interests, business and real estate among them, and eventually returned to the Portland Trail Blazers in the front office.

Pointing to the problematic left knee, Petrie said he still experiences occasional discomfort. "But not as much as I do other parts of the body," he said, with a grin. As the youthful-looking, 60-year-old executive often notes, aging is not a pleasant experience.


The boss likes what he sees

Petrie is known for carefully selecting his public comments - and for his creative analogies, metaphors and one-liners - but to those who have spent a lot of time in his company, he is actually pretty transparent. Unlike many of his NBA colleagues, he isn't very accomplished at serving up the b.s. So, it was interesting to note his mood Monday: for the first time in a while, he seems genuinely upbeat about the direction of the team and the upcoming season. He believes he has a talented young corps that can be developed while competing for a playoff berth, in essence, one that is starting to resemble a team with pieces that fit. Plus, pieces that pass the ball.

Petrie seems intent on returning to the days when the Kings might have been defensively challenged but were fun to watch. And there is no doubt that he has allies in Kevin Martin, Brad Miller, Spencer Hawes, etc., all of whom are adamant about playing a very specific style - as Larry Brown would say - of playing the "right way." Think cutting, passing, teamwork, fast breaks, and a minimal amount of one-on-one basketball.


Hunting, fishing, whatever ...

Miller and Reggie Theus spent the past few weeks on separate hunting trips - Miller to Kentucky, Theus to New Mexico. Theus, who often uses the bow and arrow, said he discovered archery during his playing days in Sacramento, and is encouraging his teenage son, Reggie Jr., to pick up the sport. "It's just another thing that we can do together," said Reggie Sr. Theus also loves to hike, but says his son has absolutely no interest in tents, sleeping on the ground, etc. Hey, I hear him. Nothing wrong with spending a day on the trails, then hitting a Marriott for a jacuzzi and room service ....


Missing in action

One of the funniest lines of the day was provided by a local journalist, commenting on Joe Maloof's absence. (Joe loves this stuff). When it was mentioned that the Kings' co-owner was still pretty miserable and recovering in Los Angeles from double knee replacement surgery necessitated by old football injuries, the newsy type quipped, "What, from his Pop Warner days?"
Taking up for his older brother, Gavin Maloof later responded, feigning indignation, "No, not Pop Warner. Joe was a safety at the University of New Mexico. We all played football in college. I'm not saying we were very good ..."
Gavin added that the eldest Maloof sibling had lost 30 pounds during his rehab, and "is looking pretty skinny. Wait till you see him."


Not that anyone should be surprised. Much of this was chronicled in The Bee during the best years of the Kings-Lakers rivalry. But Shaquille O'Neal has always privately (and not so privately) enjoyed an affinity for Sacramento, his comments about "cowtown" and "Sacramento Queens" notwithstanding. When he wasn't dunking over Scot Pollard and Vlade Divac during his visits with the Lakers - OK, and keeping the Kings from their first NBA championship in 2002 - he was strolling the lobby of the Hyatt Regency, chatting with fans, and graciously posing for photos. Kids in particular love him. Other times, he was off at the shooting range with former Sheriff Lou Blanas, prepping for his afterlife as a deputy sheriff. Can you imagine?.

Last night, as the featured speaker at the annual St. HOPE dinner at the Hyatt Regency, he was, as usual, absolutely hilarious. (I swear I even saw Jerry Reynolds laughing, in spite of himself and his Kings loyalty). Shaq danced onto the stage wearing an Afro wig and lip-synching to the The Jackson Five's "I Want You Back." He almost immediately mentioned the incongruity of being asked by Sacramento native Kevin Johnson to speak at his event - that Kings rivalry indeed lives - and said he initially told KJ he was crazy to ask him to attend, given his mayoral aspirations. "I told him, 'People hate me there," related Shaq, who agreed to make the trip anyway.

Referring to a visit earlier in the day to the Boys & Girls Club, Shaq added, "Everyone is going 'Shaq, Shaq!, and one little kid says, 'Shaq, but you still (stink) at free throws!' " He went on to say that his verbal shots about Sacramento all those years "were all about marketing. As you know, Sacramento is a beautiful town. The people here, you guys got us playing at a high level ... and without you guys, I wouldn't have four rings!"


What if?

I have known Shaq since his days at LSU - his former attorney/representative and I were law school classmates - and because I worked in Atlanta for eight years, we spent a lot of time together (Olympics, NBA Finals, Orlando Magic, etc.). Thus, there is no doubt in my mind that he left the Magic for the Lakers in 1996 because he couldn't resist the overtures of the legendary Jerry West, I can also tell you that he was more than a little hurt when the Maloofs (per Geoff Petrie's counsel) didn't pursue him when his relationship soured with Kobe Bryant. Shaq liked Sacramento that much. He has always been a small town guy - he kept a home in Orlando during his years with the Lakers, and spent most of his offseason there. He absolutely hated L.A. traffic. Once, during a preseason trip to San Diego, we drove to the nearby San Diego Zoo, and he spent most of the time complaining about the traffic (and playing around with the GPS system, looking for escape routes).

No doubt about it. When asked what I like best about covering the NBA all these years (and in all these cities), I always respond that it's the people. Shaq has long been one of my Fab Fives, as is Charles Barkley, who might be the only NBA type who is even funnier than The Diesel .


Looking slim

I have to agree with my colleague, Scott Howard-Cooper, who visited with Shaq earlier in the day. Shaq looks good. Though suits can be deceiving, and are effective at hiding excess weight, the Phoenix Suns center (that still sounds strange) appeared slim and surprisingly fit given that training camp doesn't begin until next week.

September 18, 2008
Stumbling along

Kings/Monarchs co-owner Gavin Maloof, in town for tonight's WNBA playoff game between the Monarchs and San Antonio Silver Stars, described his last few weeks as "exhausting." And, no, he wasn't talking about the impact of the nation's economic crisis on the family businesses. He says he has spent the past month taking care of his mother, Colleen, who was ill, and more recently, brother Joe, who underwent double knee replacement surgery last week in Phoenix.

Gavin described the procedure as "excruciatingly painful," and said that Joe is finally starting to feel better and attempting to walk around. "He knew he had to get it done," said Gavin, "but he kept putting it off because it's such a tough surgery. His knees were bone on bone, from old football injuries. It was causing him to walk bowlegged, but now, even when he takes a few steps, his legs have straightened out on him."

The walking wounded at Arco Arena - which already included Monarchs power forward Rebekkah Brunson - included Monarchs general manager John Whisenant. Whiz came into the press room before tipoff and apologized for not returning my phone call Wednesday. He didn't have to do much explaining: His face was covered with bandages. He had a cancerous growth removed from the side of his nose and required 25 stitches.

September 2, 2008
Too new to know better


River Cats manager Todd Steverson is a native of Southern California, so that goes a long way toward explaining his NBA loyalties. Sort of. He's not a Kings fan naturally, but he's not a Lakers fan, either. The Cats' first-year manager actually supports the Clippers - and isn't afraid to say so publicly. "I go back with them to their San Diego days," Steverson recalled the other day. "Norm Nixon, all those guys. Big Clippers fan. But now ... they gave Elton Brand away, I don't even want to TALK about my Clippers. We go and get Baron Davis, and watch, he's going to want to leave."

Steverson, 36, who was 14 years old when Clips owner Donald T. Sterling relocated the franchise to the old Los Angeles Sports Arena, supported all the San Diego pro teams hough his loyalties could have been evenly split: With his parents divorcing, his mother remained in the Los Angeles area and his father moved to San Diego. As a result, he spent time in both locations.

"Loved the Chargers, too," he continued, "especially those (Don) Coryell teams. Kellen Winslow. Charlie Joiner. Wes Chandler. John Jefferson ..."

Asked whether he has developed an affinity for the Kings, the local team that plays across the river and a few miles to the north, Steverson laughed, then added: "Can't be a Kings fan. I'm a Clippers fan. People can hate me all they want, but you like who you like, right?"

Nonetheless, Steverson admitted that he doesn't wear his Clippers gear in public, at least not in Sacramento. "You think I'm crazy?" he laughed. "Down there, yeah. Up here? No way."

August 27, 2008
The big man goes elsewhere

If the Kings were still interested in adding a "big man's" coach to Reggie Theus' staff - and it appears that they no longer are - they missed their chance at Jeff Ruland, the former NBA center who subsequently enjoyed a long, successful run as head coach at Iona College. Ruland, who spent last season coaching Albquerque in the NBA Developmental League, was hired by the 76ers a few days ago to replace Henry Bibby.

In the NBA, he was drafted by Golden State in 1980, but spent most of his career with the Washington Bullets. At 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds, he was an excellent shooter and rugged, physical rebounder. But I was always most appreciative of his slick passing. His career ended prematurely because of foot and knee injuries. Those were the days, you might recall, before arthroscopic surgery prolonged careers.

Ruland, 49, initiated contact with the Kings several months ago, but when I spoke with him Wednesday, said he interviewed with the 76ers about a week after hiring agent Warren LeGarie. He credits LeGarie - who represents coaches, players and is particularly connected in the overseas market - with his current opportunity. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he played for the 76ers briefly before retiring in 1993, spent the 1993-94 as one of Freddie Carter's assistants, and remained highly regarded within the organization. Now he gets to work with Elton Brand. Not too shabby.

Later in the day, I called Theus and asked what happened to all the talk about adding a frontcourt specialist to work with Spencer Hawes and rookie Jason Thompson, and from what he said, it sounds like the idea has been tabled. "Whatever they (Geoff Petrie and the Maloofs) want to do is fine with me," said Theus. "I just haven't heard anything about that for a while. But I think they saw Spencer getting better late in the season, so maybe that had something to do with where we're at."

On the hunt

Before training camp opens at the end of September, Theus plans to go dove hunting in New Mexico with his 14-year-old son, Reggie. Think bows and arrows, not shotguns. We keep hearing that Reggie is quite the archer. But he's hoping that his namesake - who already stands 6-foot-4 - is more inclined to develops his basketball skills. "His feet are huge," said Theus, laughing. "I want him to keep playing."

Bobby, Bobby, Bobby ...

Theus is quickly gaining a sense of Bobby Jackson's popularity within the community. Virtually everywhere he goes, people approach and express their excitement about the veteran guard's return. "Bobby Jackson, Bobby Jackson, Bobby Jackson," Theus said. "I say, 'guys, that was eight years ago. He can still play. But that was a long time ago.' The good thing is, I've talked to Bobby, and explained to him how important his presence is going to be in the locker room. It's going to be enormous. It's important to mentor the young guys the right way, and a lot of our success is going to depend on how quickly the young guys develop."

August 26, 2008
The sweetest man ...

I just got off the phone with Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, who like everyone else who was around the NBA in the late 1980s and '90s, was saddened by the death of former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth. According to news reports out of Oregon, the man known as "Duck" died of unknown causes Tuesday at age 44.

A 7-footer who battled weight issues throughout his 11-year-career, Duckworth succumbed while representing the Blazers at a basketball clinic in Lincoln City, Ore. The two-time All-Star is best known for anchoring Rick Adelman's Portland teams that reached the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992. More importantly, he will be remembered as one of the nicest men in the league, and much to the delight of journalists, a genuinely entertaining, thoughtful character. After one particularly subpar playoff performance, for instance, he spent most of an interview session talking about his passion for fishing and his plans to become a "worm" farmer when he retired. Instead, he ran a construction company, owned a restaurant and pursued his love for hunting and fishing.

"He was a gentle giant, a real sweetheart of a guy," recalled Petrie, who joined the Blazers front office shortly into Duckworth's tenure with the club, "and he was a very effective player on a great team. He had a soft touch, a little jump hook, and face-up jumper. In his best years, he could actually run well for a guy his size. Toward the end of his career, he really struggled with his weight. It wasn't something he wasn't aware of, and it doesn't take away from the spirit of the man. It's so sad, such a premature passing."

Duckworth, who averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds, also played for San Antonio, Washington, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Clippers. His career undoubtedly was affected by his weight problems; at times, he ballooned close to 400 pounds.

Petrie had not yet spoken to his front office assistant Wayne Cooper, a former Blazers teammate of Duckworth. "Wayne's on vacation in Hawaii," Petrie added, "but I'm sure he heard about it this morning."


Never too old to admit his mistakes

Petrie mentioned that he was impressed with Michelle Obama's speech Monday night at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, and then revealed his own personal interest in the upcoming race: It's the Princeton connection, of course. Michelle Obama's brother, Craig Robinson, also played for Petrie's mentor, Pete Carril at the Ivy League school. Robinson is the new head basketball coach at Oregon State.

But what I wanted to know is this: Are the Princeton ties sufficient to bring Carril back into the "Democratic" family? The Kings consultant - now living near his family in New Jersey - voted for George W. Bush in 2000, but later acknowledged his lapse in judgment. Best guess here is that Barack Obama can count on Coachie this time ...

August 26, 2008
Chuck Daly and his Bad Boys


During my conversation on Monday with former Detroit Pistons coach Chuck Daly - mostly about his 1992 U.S. Olympic team - we chatted about a number of other topics, including the bad rap on his old "Bad Boys" teams. One of the things I found most interesting was his suggestion that the 2008 USA Team would have benefitted from the presence of a Dennis Rodman or Karl Malone-type rebounder. (Spain capitalized on the USA's lack of size with several timely offensive boards and stickbacks). But he had no issues with the gold medal outcome.

Here are a few of the other offerings from Daly, who remains spry at 78. He was speaking on his cell phone while at the airport in Detroit, en route to an appearance at Michael Jordan's annual Fantasy Camp in Las Vegas:
* On the "Bad Boys" reputation: "The league didn't like it much, but that whole image thing sold a lot of tickets. People loved that whole era. They still do. I go through airports today, and people come up to me all the time. They don't know my name - they never know my name - but they know I coached the Bad Boys. I get a kick out of it.
* On why former Pistons center and current Detroit Shock coach Bill Laimbeer can't land an NBA head coaching job: "I think it must be because Billy made a lot of enemies when he was a player. But I tell you what. He is as smart as a whip. Someone is going to get darn lucky in this league. They just have to take a chance. I talked to the Maloofs about him when they were looking for a coach (last year), and they would have talked to him. But Geoff (Petrie) wasn't interested."
* On busting the effective zone defenses played by Spain in the second half of Sunday's gold medal game: "There are two ways to do it. You make shots, or you make second shots. That's why I think they (Americans) could have a guy like Rodman, Malone, Barkley. Those guys would go out and get you the second shots."
* On the 2008 Team USA: "They kind of set the standard high again for the way they played, and the way they handled themselves, with dignity and class. The two people upstairs (USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski) did a great job."

August 14, 2008
It takes two ....


It was no secret that the Kings had attempted to trade Ron Artest for the better part of a year, at least partly for fear of losing the small forward to free agency (2009 offseason). Nor was there much suspense about the identity of the potential trading partners. The Lakers. Miami. Denver. Dallas. Golden State. All had some interest. But the Houston Rockets made too much sense along. To improve their prospects in the Western Conference and a chance of advancing beyond the first round for the first time in what seems like forever, they needed a third star, and probably a veteran. Plus, Rick Adelman is their coach. Adelman coached Artest during his impressive second half of the 2005-06 season in Sacramento. And Geoff Petrie, who is Adelman's longtime friend and former boss, runs the Kings. Connect the dots and you get ... a trade.

So how much of a factor was the Adelman-Petrie connection? There is a hunch, then there is confirmation: During a conversation with the Kings' boss Thursday afternoon, I was surprised at Petrie's candor. Yes, he acknowledged. Their relationship was a significant factor.

"I talked to Rick over there (summer league in Las Vegas)," Petrie told me Thursday. "That's when the talks (intensified). I said, 'Is your interest in doing something serious? Would it be something you would really be interested in?' He said, yes, he was. While everybody (in Sacramento) would love to make the Louisiana Purchase, what this does is give them an immediate jolt, and for us, it's another piece, a kid I think should have been a top-20 pick. I like the Greene kid a lot. Plus, we get another first-round pick, and we have some cap flexibility."

In other words, he likes the trade.


For the history buffs ....

Forgotten everything you learned in those junior high history classes, have you? Just in case: The Louisiana Purchase, which took place in 1803 during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, accounted for the acquisition of much of most of middle America, including the states now known as Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, most of the Dakotas, etc. Back then, real estate was a great investment: the purchase price was 60 million francs, or approximately $15 million. We definitely snookered the French on that one ....


Meanwhile, while watching the Olympics ...

Chris Marlowe, a member of the Denver Nuggets broadcast team, is a superb volleyball analyst. As he should be. Known as "Cy" back in the day, Marlowe captained the American team that featured a boyish superstar Karch Kiraly, veteran Paul Sunderland (brief successor to Lakers icon Chick Hearn), and captured a gold medal in the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. Though a seldom-used reserve, Marlowe always had the gift of gab.

August 13, 2008
The trade hour nears


The Ron Artest trade is hours from being finalized, but in typical Geoff Petrie fashion, the Kings basketball president will twist and turn until the swap with the Houston Rockets is official. He never wavers. He always sweats until the agreement has been approved by the league attorneys, which is expected to happen about 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.

In a small change of pace, Petrie actually relented and recently accompanied his wife, Anne-Marie, on a long-awaited vacation to Hawaii. But let's just say, the Kings basketball president is not someone who excels at idle time. He typically gets antsy after two-three days, seldom ventures outside his zip code, and eagerly returns to the office. (My sources say he returned from Hawaii only a few days early this time).

Anyway, with both organizations determined to complete the deal, the unpredictable, but always intriguing Artest should be Yao Ming's teammate by Thursday night. Or let's just say, the Kings careers of rookies Sean Singletary and Patrick Ewing, Jr., consisted of an entertaining press conference and several not-so-impressive performances at the Las Vegas Summer League.


During Team USA's training sessions in Las Vegas, player personnel director (and well-known international scout) Tony Ronzone broke down the competition, and he predicted that Spain would present the USA with its toughtest competition. In order, he ranked Lithuania, defending Olympic champion Argentina, and then Greece, the team that shocked Mike Krzyzewski's team in the 2006 World Championships in Japan.
Given what we've seen thus far from the Americans - and the obvious motivational factors going into Thursday's rematch - I suspect Kobe & Co. will defeat the slick-shooting Greeks by 30 or 40 points, and as Ronzone indicated, have a more competitive game against Spain.
I always like Argentina because of their ball movement, outside shooting and team chemistry, but his denials to the contrary, I find it hard to believe that Manu Ginobili's injured ankle is completely healed. My San Antonio sources tell me that Gregg Popovich urged Ginobili to skip the Games, knowing all along that his star would be unable to resist the pressure to participate when he returned home after the season.


Shutting it down

See what happens when you go on vacation? While I was driving somewhere between Bend, Oregon, and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, I received a call from my boss, informing me of the news regarding Ron Artest. I will address the trade more extensively when the deal is finalized later this week, but my initial thoughts were these: (1) a trade was inevitable, and probably before training camp; (2) the Houston Rockets were among the logical trading partners, mainly because general managers are similar to most people - they tend to deal with colleagues they are most comfortable and familiar with, and Geoff Petrie's relationship with Rick Adelman should have been the first clue that a swap was likely; (3) it will be interesting to see whether Artest truly accepts his role as a third scoring option behind Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming and, in fact, regains his defensive intensity; and (4) if Donte Greene plays at the level he did during the Summer League in Las Vegas, and Petrie plucks another gem next summer (or uses the pick in another trade), then I like the trade a lot. I appreciate Lamar Odom's versatility, but if you are going to rebuild, you might as well go with youth.

Bad for the longterm health

Watching Yao Ming carrying the flag for his native China during the Opening Ceremonies, I thought I detected a slight limp. Not a good sign. Yao missed the final months of the NBA season with a stress fracture in his left foot, and his availability for these Olympics was in jeopardy for a while. The question is, what will be the effect on his upcoming Rockets season? Already, at age 27, the genial center has suffered significant injuries to his knees, feet and toes. And you thoughts the Rockets had cause to worry about Artest ....

July 24, 2008
Is this for real?

While several NBA observers are suggesting Josh Childress' defection from the Atlanta Hawks to Olympiakos, one of the two major clubs in Athens, is a precursor of more to come - with more NBA-caliber starters splitting for bigger money overseas - I am not convinced.


After the brawl

I didn't catch the replays of the brawl involving the Detroit Shock and L.A. Sparks until late Tuesday night, but my initial reaction after watching the incident several times is that Plenette Pierson instigated the whole ugly incident, and should be punished accordingly. From the replays on ESPN, which broadcast the game, it was unclear exactly what happened between Detroit assistant Rick Mahorn and Sparks center Lisa Leslie. And while Leslie has accused the massive Mahorn of pushing her to the court, I am going to rely on the courtside viewpoints of the ESPN broadcast crew, especially Doris Burke, who says that everyone in her broadcast crew felt Mahorn was trying to separate players and play the peacemaker. Sometimes, you just have to be there ...
As for Burke, who is one of the nicest, most knowledgeable people in the game, she is fast emerging as the best female analyst in the business. One of the things I like about her - and I feel the same way about the Monarchs' Kara Lawson, who works for ESPN and the Kings - is that she isn't intimidated by anybody. She says what she thinks, doesn't broadcast to keep everybody happy. I wish there were more women in the industry like Burke ... and Lawson.


What might have been

New Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins, who is among the many USA Basketball officials who select players for the national teams, excused himself from a conversation with me yesterday at the Team USA media session to offer a few words to Robin Lopez. The "other" Lopez twin is on the Select team, otherwise known as the scrubs and up-and-coming NBA players auditioning for future roster spots. Dawkins could be heard telling Lopez that he played well, and that he expected the former Cardinal to enjoy a long NBA career.
When the two were finished talking, I asked Dawkins if he allowed himself to wonder how much more appealing his 2008-09 roster would be if the twins had returned for a junior year. "All the time," Dawkins replied, laughing.


No more boundaries

NBA types have long assisted the Olympic efforts of other nations, most notably Donnie Nelson's long association with Lithuania's teams, dating to the 1992 Barcelona Games. This year, of course, Chris Kaman is playing for Germany and Becky Hammon is on the roster for Russia. Yet earlier today at the Team USA practice in Las Vegas - looking at the clock, it was yesterday - I gave Toronto Raptors assistant Jay Triano an especially hard time. One of the assistants working with P.J. Carlesimo's staff with the Select team, Jay is a Canadian, a very close friend of Steve Nash, and just happens to be the former Canadian Olympic coach (2000). Now, he's helping out the Americans?
Well, why not? Triano, who guided the Canadian national team from 1999-2004, will work as a commentator for the CBC at the Beijing Games. Guess he'll know what he's talking about when the Americans recapture the gold. Seriously, I don't see anyone beating them this time, though this team is not nearly as imposing as the 1992 Dream Team or the 2003 national team that dominated the qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico. That roster would have won the gold in Athens, no question. Everyone seems to forget that, among Larry Brown's 2003 squad, only Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson stuck with the program. Everyone else bailed for various reasons, mostly fearing terrorism in Athens.

LAS VEGAS - One of the disadvantages of having lived here is that whenever I come back here for work or pleasure, I stay with close friends or relatives instead of booking a room on The Strip. Thus, I miss out on the Vegas "experience," which to be honest, never really appealed. Still, once in a while ...
While having lunch with Joe and Gavin Maloof earlier today at the poolside restaurant in the Palms Place condominium tower, Paul Stanley of KISS suddenly appeared on the deck. He was in the midst of receiving a tour of the property from the always industrious George Maloof - who might have been the only male in town wearing a long-sleeved shirt. (The temp was only about, oh, 105 degrees or so). Stanley, who recently purchased one of the condos, eventually walked over and introduced himself. He made small talk with Joe and Gavin for a few minutes, and he was very, very nice - and very normal looking. Imagine that!

Still growing
After spending about two hours listening to Joe and Gavin engage in their usual hyperbole about Kevin Martin, Spencer Hawes, rookie Jason Thompson, etc. - and they still insist Quincy Douby is going to be a star - I took a short stroll around the premises. In all honesty, I wondered why I had stayed away so long. (Most of my journalism colleagues who come here to cover a variety of assignments stay at the Palms). The place is three times the size of what I remembered. The last time I was here, I don't even think the second tower was under construction. Interestingly, the Palms was pretty busy compared with what I encountered at the Wynn last night. I hooked up for dinner with some USA Basketball officials at Steve Wynn's place, and I was struck by how empty the casino floor and the restaurants appeared. By contrast, one of our dining partners had just left the Palms, and said the casino was hopping.
Wonder what their secret is ...

Eager for a vacation
Martin, who has one more practice with the Select Team that has been training with the U.S. Olympic team here at Valley High, says he's ready for a vacation. The plan is to return to Sacramento for a few days, conduct a clinic in his hometown of Zanesville, Ohio, then head to Tahiti. "Then it will be six weeks of working hard and getting ready for the season," the Kings guard said after Wednesday's session.

Helping his cause
It remains to be seen, of course, whether Martin will ever get serious consideration for a roster spot on an Olympic team, but he continues to receive encouraging reviews from those inside the gym. (Practices are closed to media). Don Casey, one of P.J. Carlesimo's assistants on the Select Team, said Martin has improved with each practice. "Where did he go to school?" asked Casey, a former head coach with the New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and at Temple University. "He really shot the ball well, and he has been able to get his shot off more effectively as we go along. I like him a lot. Plus, he listens. He wants to learn, and that's always a good sign."

LAS VEGAS - In the waning moments of today's media availability session with Team USA and members of the Select Team working out here this week, the conversation turned political. Sort of. Several of the numerous college and NBA types assisting the national program have spent considerable time scouting in basketball-rich Serbia, and accordingly, were more than mildly interested to learn about the capture of accused war criminal Radovan Karadzic.
The leader of the Bosnian Serb forces during the height of the Balkan conflict in the 1990s has been accused of masterminding the massacre of approximately 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995. He is said to have eluded authorities partly because of his various disguises, but reportedly was captured near Belgrade, which means he probably wasn't apprehended far from the two hotels where the NBA types stay during their visits. (This also brought back memories for those of us who traveled to Belgrade for a pre-Olympic tournament 2004. In one of those hotels - the Intercontinental - that are within a few hundred yards of each other, the former paramilitary leader known as "Arkan" was assassinated while seated in the lobby area. The front desk employees say visitors frequently ask about the exact spot where Arkan - Zeljko Raznatovic - was ambushed, and they oblige, of course. According to what we were told, Arkan was surprised by gunmen coming down an escalator in the back and through the revolving door in the front.)
Anyway, one of the more interesting recollections was offered by Detroit Pistons international scouting director Tony Ronzone. The Oakland native, who also has worked for the Dallas Mavericks and played and coached overseas, recalled how he sneaked into Serbia (flouting UN sanctions) on a scouting mission right about the time the massacre took place. "I took a little jump plane into Montenegro, and some guy met me on the runway," Ronzone related. "He walked me to the other plane and said 'Don't say anything.' I'm not crazy. We landed and I got my bags, then they checked me into the Hyatt (in Belgrade). I paid the guy some money. They told me, 'Don't go anywhere.' But I'm sitting there, thinking, 'I'm not going to stay in my room the whole time.' "
As the story continues ... Ronzone managed to find his way to some of the area's gyms.

Basketball's mutual admiration society
Well, so much for that Kings-Lakers rivalry. On Monday, Kevin Martin speaks glowingly of Kobe Bryant. On Tuesday, the Lakers star returns the praise. "Kevin's one of my favorite players," said Bryant, while icing his knees after the workout. Asked whether he noticed any improvement in Martin's ability to create off the dribble, the Lakers guard replied, "Um, he can get to where he needs to go. Bringing it up, he has some trouble. But from the wing, he can get to where he needs to go. He'll get better."
Jokingly, Bryant added, "Actually, I think he's horrible. Put that in the Sacramento paper. Sac should trade him to us for two second-round picks. How about that? Might as well stay on a roll. While we're at it, trade Dirk Nowitzki for a third-round pick. How about that?"

The first misstep
LeBron James became the week's first casualty when he landed on Kevin Durant's foot during a scrimmage and sprained his right ankle. The injury is being listed as "mild," and though it's still early, the coaches didn't seem overly concerned. "We'll find out more tomorrow," said Mike Krzyzewski. "I don't think it's anything, but obviously, we'll look and know more tomorrow."

July 22, 2008
The training continues

LAS VEGAS - While it can be (and is) debated whether Mike Krzyzewski made a mistake by going with small lineups and playing center Brad Miller only sparingly at the 2006 World Championships in Japan, the Kings center is well thought of by USA Basketball officials. Besides the fact Miller refused to gripe about his limited playing minutes while the national team lost to Greece and only came away with the bronze medal, USAB types still appreciate the fact that Miller agreed to play for the 1998 Worlds team that finished a surprising third in Athens.
For those who might have forgotten, that was the year that Patrick Ewing led an NBA player boycott of the tournament because of the labor impasse that led to the first work stoppage in league history. The 1998-99 season was shortened and didn't begin until February.
Miller - who was not drafted and briefly flirted with playing overseas - was among the collegians and CBA players who participated. Rudy Tomjanovich somehow directed the hastily-assembled squad to the bronze medal and earned himself the head coaching job for the 2000 Sydney Games.
While waiting for Krzyzewski to open up the closed practice currently under way at Valley High, one of the USA officials asked about Miller's recent suspension, and added, "He's still one of our favorite guys."

Why play here?
As mentioned in of my previous blogs, members of the USA squad and the Select Team have been scrimmaging at one of the area's older high schools instead of, say, the more comfortable surroundings at UNLV. The problem is one of timing: four AAU tournaments are ongoing, and UNLV's facilities were booked for the annual high schools a long time ago. Valley was selected because it has a regulation 94-foot court and a separate practice court a few steps away.

A former coach weighs in
Krzyzewski, who coached Shelden Williams at Duke, said he was glad to hear reports out of UNLV indicating that the Kings power forward performed well during the NBA Summer League that recently ended. The former Atlanta Hawks first-round (and shocking No. 5) selection seemed much more receptive to doing the dirty work around the basket - scrapping for rebounds, scoring off putbacks - instead of relying so heavily on low -post moves. The muscular Williams is too slow to consistently score against NBA frontlines, especially when the defense collapses, and has a tendency to spin into crowds of defenders.
"I think he can succeed in the league," Coach K said, "if he embraces the things that he can do well."

July 21, 2008
Glad he's here

LAS VEGAS - Before returning to Sacramento on Sunday night, Geoff Petrie said he was delighted Kevin Martin had accepted an invitation to join the Select Team that is training with the U.S. Olympic squad for the next few days, for obvious reasons. "I think he's starting to be recognized as an All-Star caliber type player, and it's an honor for him," said the Kings basketball president, "and to be able to compete against the best players in the league, and with the best players, it can only be good for him."
(Yes, Petrie has a soft spot for his young star, who was drafted with the No. 26 pick in 2004 but has emerged as one of the league's most efficient and prolific scorers.)
Martin, by the way, said he has gained 10 pounds of muscle, mostly in his upper arms. He says he weighs 190 pounds. "I lost weight during the season," he added. "I finished the year at 180, but you can't believe how much better it feels when you're out there with this added strength."

What exactly is a Select Team?
Eventually, USAB officials need to come up with a better name, but in the interim, the Select Team consists of NBA players who were not named to the Olympic team, but are willing to play the role of "scrubs" and practice against their brethren headed overseas. The roster usually consists of younger NBA players and remains fluid everyone officially convenes. Hence, the late addition of Portland Trail Blazer rookie Jerryd Bayless. This is also the group of players who, when not trying to score against Kobe Bryant and his teammates, basically audition for future USA squads.
Anyway, while catching the final minute of Monday's practice session and speaking privately with Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski, I was reminded of the original 1992 Dream Team's scrimmages in La Jolla, and how Kings rookie (and Select Team member) Bobby Hurley left Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, among others, marveling at his playmaking abilities and predicting a terrific NBA future. Because of the auto accident that almost claimed Hurley's life, we never got a chance to see whether the Hall of Famers were right.

More musings from Valley High school
* Kevin Love, another late addition to the scrubs, sat out practice with a sore Achilles. He is coming off an excellent NBA Summer League showing, though he sat out the last game with the injury.
* From what I am hearing, rookie O.J. Mayo was the most impressive of the non-Olympians, and surprise, surprise, Kobe Bryant distinguished himself among the Beijing-bound players.
* Team USA (and all-around great guy) Nate McMillan, also known as the former heart, soul and face of the Sonics franchise, never moved his family to Portland when he became Blazers head coach. Like Seattle native Spencer Hawes, McMillan is really bummed about the organization's relocation to Oklahoma City. "I am going to miss those road trips to Seattle to see my family," said McMillan. "It will be strange when winter comes and there's no basketball up there."
* USAB patriarch Jerry Colangelo, the former Phoenix Suns owner/executive, spent several minutes chatting with me about his famous ex-point guard - Sacramento mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson. KJ's old boss asked the date of the runoff, and said he followed the primary results closely. He also said he was among the NBA types contributing to KJ's campaign.
* Martin is a quick study, but he jokingly acknowledged that he could use a refresher course on his Olympic history. He started talking about the '92 squad that was showcased by Bird, Magic, Michael Jordan, and Charles Barkley, and slipped Reggie Miller's name in there. "Reggie wasn't on that team?" Martin replied, when told that the former Pacers star was on the '96 squad. "Oh, I thought he was." Barely missing a beat, he noted, "But they won all their games by 30 points or more, and they went undefeated, so they were still a Dream Team."

LAS VEGAS - Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said that Brad Miller "apologized profusely" for violating the league's substance abuse policy and promised to have another solid season.
"We have to believe him," said Maloof. "A year ago, he said he would come in and give us a great year, and he kept his word. Some of his comments the other day ... I think he really opened some eyes. He came clean. I expect him to be there for us again this year. With the way Spencer (Hawes) is playing, and from what it looks like Jason (Thompson) can give us, if Brad plays well, maybe we can surprise some people this year. We're young, but we're getting there.''

A little baseball history for basketball fans
The men's U.S. Olympic basketball team gathered earlier today in preparation for the week-long, final preparation before the trip to Beijing. But so much for the accommodations. While the Olympic and Select teams (other NBA players enlisted for the workouts) are housed in a five-star hotel, the practices will be held at Valley High School, one of the area's older campuses. The reason is simple: Valley is one of few schools with the regulation 94-foot court.
In terms of sports, the Vikings are best known for producing future Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux and his older brother, Mike.

The grunt work
Former NBA journeyman Haywoode Workman is attempting to become only the third ex-player to join the league's officiating staff. Bernie Fryer and Leon Wood are the only two former players to make the, ah, leap.
Workman, who officiated the Kings-Rockets game, has been involved with the NBDL and the Summer League for five years.
If you can believe it, Golden State Warriors coach Don Nelson flirted with the possibility of becoming a referee after his playing career ended, but wisely came to his senses. Hard to imagine Nellie running the baselines at this pace ...

Seen and heard
* Kings media relations assistant Darryl Arata approached Maloof before the Kings-Rockets game and said, "No Q (Quincy Douby) today. He's got food poisoning." Then, in another example of his terrific sense of humor, Arata added with a grin, "Don't worry. He didn't eat at the Palms."
* Hawes, who admittedly still is bummed about his hometown Seattle SuperSonics relocating to Oklahoma City, lists former Sonics owner (and struggling Starbucks mogul) Howard Schultz as the biggest villain in the matter. "Schultz, absolutely," said Hawes. "It's like my Dad said. People in Seattle won't really feel the loss until the season starts and there's no team to follow. Really, in the winter, when its's cold, and there's nothing to do. That's when it will really hit that they're gone."
* Milwaukee Bucks assistant Kelvin Sampson, the former Indiana University head coach who was released by the school because of repeated NCAA recruiting improprieties, is looking forward to teaching and coaching without concerning himself with home visits and sales jobs. "It's just basketball," said Sampson, who joins an impressive staff that includes head coach Scott Skiles and assistants Jim Boylan, Lionel Hollins - for former NBA head coaches - and longtime CBA and NBDL coach Joe Wolf. Before the scandal at IU, Sampson was among the core group of coaches consistently involved with USA Basketball's increasingly active international work.
* My Fab Five (rookies) from Vegas, in no particular order: Jerryd Bayless, Kevin Love, Anthony Randolph, Donte Greene and Jason Thompson.
* For those familiar with the old, old, old Las Vegas entertainment scene, comedian Sammy Shore sat with Joe Maloof for the Kings-Rockets game. During one timeout, Shore, who has to be somewhere in his 80s, stood up and started dancing. He wasn't too bad, actually.

LAS VEGAS - David Kahn, the owner of Reno's expansion NBDL team, has been attending the NBA Summer League the past few days to evaluate some of his future players, but mostly, to find a new head coach. Former Charlotte Bobcats coach Sam Vincent originally accepted the job, but changed his mind after the news conference already had been scheduled. Vincent, who was fired by the Bobcats after one season, had a year remaining on his contract, so he can be a little selective.
As for the new coach ... because the Reno franchise will be affiliated with the Kings, the plan is to hire someone whose offensive and defensive schemes are compatible with those favored by Reggie Theus. "If the Kings send down Sean Singletary or Patrick Ewing Jr., for example," said Kahn, "our coach would work with them on specific things the Kings believe they need help with.
The fact that Kahn has been friends with Geoff Petrie for more than 20 years suggests the potential for a close connection between the franchises. An Oregon native, Kahn is a former sportswriter for the Portland Oregonian who earned his law degree from NYU, worked for the NBA legal firm in Manhattan before for a few years, and later became Donnie Walsh's special assistant with the Indiana Pacers.

Building a beauty
Whether or not the NBDL evolves into the type of minor-league system NBA types hope, Kahn already has made a nice name for himself within the industry. Yes, he was a decent sportswriter; he was even more creative when it came to Conseco Fieldhouse, still the jewel of NBA arenas. This was his baby, everything from the original (and unique) concept, to the financing mechanisms, to the political and promotional matters.
"It wasn't really our idea," said Kahn, laughing. "We stole it from baseball. Baseball had been building these kinds of structures (that retain unique, old style facades) for a number of years. We asked the question, 'Why not put basketball in a place where the game really matters and shows an appreciation of its history?' It was a baseball idea we made relevant to basketball."
"When I look at Sacramento, any new arena should be relevant to the local community. It has to be about their history - it doesn't have to be about basketball - but I suspect something featuring the gold rush. Just pick a concept or a theme that makes the people that live there feel that it's their place. It should be about Sacramento, about the state capital, about the region's history. It should be a place where, if you picked it up and placed it somewhere else, it wouldn't work ... Obviously it's got to have some connection to sports, and, yes, obviously the Kings will be the driving force with 41 home dates. But they truly do need a better facility for family shows, other sporting events. People sometimes forget that these facilities are shared not just by people who are basketball fans, (but those) who go to concerts, other events. I'm sure there are people who have been to Conseco who have never even been to a Pacers game.

The next season
The NBDL is targeting Thanksgiving week for its 2008-09 season opener


LAS VEGAS - It's always great to hear what general managers, scouts and coaches have to say about the NBA draft ... after the fact. These guys all lie. These guys had it right all along, of course. But while the Kings supposedly "surprised" the experts by selecting Jason Thompson so early (with the No.12 pick), the former Rider standout has been quietly amassing admirers.
More than a few general managers and scouts approached me today and spoke glowingly of Thompson. One Eastern Conference GM, whose office is located within the same area code as Thompson's alma mater, described the 6-foot-11 rookie as "smooth, efficient, and knows how to play." He further insisted that most of his peers projected that Thompson would be taken between 12-18.
Like I said. All these guys lie, anyway.

Only in Las Vegas ... or maybe Europe
While walking into the Thomas & Mack Center earlier today, I actually saw someone take a last drag on a cigarette, and then, without extinguishing the flame, toss it into a plastic garbage can. Being from California (OK, via New York and Las Vegas), I was dutifully appalled. And conscientious. I peered into the garbage can and made sure the cigarette had been doused by the sodas and assorted dead pizza, fast food, etc.

No sign of the mentor
Reggie Theus had hoped to get together with Jerry Tarkanian, but said his former UNLV coach was spending time in San Diego. "Tark's not crazy," quipped Theus, who was the most talented prep star successfully recruited by Tarkanian. "He knows where to go to get out of this heat."
After driving around in the 110-plus temps these past few days, I vow to never again whine about the Sacramento climate.

LAS VEGAS - After covering the league for so long, I've been able to watch the transition from fathers to sons, and I have to admit, it can be pretty entertaining. For example: Patrick Ewing slipped into the Cox Pavilion during the first quarter of the Kings' victory over the Warriors Friday night, and he was a pretty, um, involved parent. Seated directly behind the bench, he chatted on his cell phone during timeouts and dead ball situations, but he watched the game closely whenever his son, Patrick, Jr., was on the court.
At one point, when the Kings' second-round draft choice committed one of his five fouls, the elder Ewing moaned, "Come on, son!"
The younger Ewing - who has struggled throughout the NBA Summer League - has been hobbled since being kicked in the thigh. The Hall of Fame center, of course, was quick to point this out.

Not the best of odds
Former Sheldon High star DeMarcus Nelson, who is trying to earn an invitation to the Warriors' training camp, is impressing with his defense and intensity, but his shaky outside shooting isn't enhancing his prospects. He converted 5-of-8 field goals against the Kings, but he missed badly on two of his three free throw attempts, the ball angling well to the left side of the rim.
If nothing else, the undersized shooting guard can take comfort in the fact that supposed slick-shooter Marco Belinelli was a miserable 1-for-10.

Which Northern California rookie earns top billing?
While the Kings entertained the idea of drafting 19-year-old Anthony Randolph, a gangly, 6-foot-10 small forward, before selecting power forward Jason Thompson, theirs could be an interesting rivalry. Randolph is a spectacular athlete, as he demonstrated with one particularly impressive follow dunk Friday night, and with his slinky build, is almost a clone of second-year forward Brandon Wright.
But Thompson appears to be the more polished player, and at least for a night, he came up a winner. He scored the deciding field goal with 17 seconds remaining, to go with his 20 points, 10 rebounds and blocked shot.

Getting out there
Though obviously embarrassed by his recently-announced suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy, Brad Miller isn't hiding out. Accompanied by his longtime companion Abby Robinson and the couple's 18-month-old daughter, Anniston, the Kings center sat in the stands for the Kings-Warriors' game. Anniston, by the way, loves the mascots ...

This is what happens when a game breaks out
There is not much to recommend Cox Pavilion, the facility separated from the Thomas & Mack Center by some concrete and a couple of yards. The wiring and technical issues that drove journalists (and the NBA) crazy during the 2007 All-Star Game persist. The internet connections in the press room and in the building are, frankly, barely beyond primitive. But along with the fact that some of the games aren't at all bad - featuring the likes of Kevin Love, Jerryd Bayless, Spencer Hawes, D.J. Augustin, Thompson and Randolph to name a few - fans can actually watch and HEAR what's going on. The sound of sneakers on the hardwood. Players screeching after missing shots. Coaches barking out plays ...
It took me a few minutes to figure out what was so different. In so many arenas today - the San Antonio Spurs are among the worst, the Lakers surprisingly among the more subtle - the fan prompts are so loud, obnoxious and incessant that the game is an afterthought. Entertainment does not necessitate the damaging of eardrums. Duh! The cowbells were one thing. Raw emotion is one thing. This other stuff ... should be outlawed.
Fortunately, the Kings made a change in their game operations department before last season, and the decibel level and frequency of said nonsense have decreased. (Thank you, thank you, thank you!). Additionally, NBA Commissioner David Stern continues to apply pressure on his owners to cool it with the noise pollution.

Welcome back, Beno
A high-ranking Clippers executive told me that while the club offered Beno Udrih the full five-year, mid-level exception at 12:01 on July 1, the Kings point guard asked for an opt-out clause in the final year. Clips coach Mike Dunleavy said he would get back to Beno on that one. But before they could respond - and while Elton Brand reportedly was still promising to return AND deliver Baron Davis - Udrih contacted Geoff Petrie and said he was accepting the Kings' five-year deal.

Just a thought
In light of Miller's suspension for smoking pot, I can't imagine Petrie actually re-signing Jason Williams, recent conversations notwithstanding. By the time Williams was traded to the Grizzlies for Mike Bibby, Kings officials and coaches had so tired of JWill's antics (including his own suspension for smoking dope and his racist rantings in Oakland), they couldn't wait to get rid of him.

July 18, 2008
The first peek

LAS VEGAS - I sort of feel like I'm a little late to the party here, because while first-round draft choice Jason Thompson was working out for the Kings in Sacramento prior to the NBA Draft, I was covering to the NBA Finals. On Friday at the Cox Pavilion - on the campus of my alma mater, I might add - I finally got a chance to see the rookie play.
These are my quick first impressions:
* He goes after the ball. As promised, he isn't shy about attacking the basket or muscilng for rebounds, and perhaps most impressively, he persists. If he fails to gather the rebound the first time, he swats at the ball, uses his body to dislodge and antagonize opponents, affording himself another opportunity to gain control.
* He doesn't have the lean, prototypical NBA physique (think of a lanky Greek god), but he has long arms, and he will be more physically imposing when he drops some body fat and adds tone.
* He definitely has skills, and a feel for the game. He runs the floor, possesses post moves, and in general, has a pretty sophisticated repertoire. The longer you watch him, the more he grows on you. I can see why Geoff Petrie and his staff liked him so much.
* He has big - I mean, huge - feet. He also runs in a deceptive heels-first motion, which makes him seem anything but athletic. But he is quicker and more agile than he initially appears. As for those feet: he says he wears a Size 20 sneaker - only about two sizes smaller than Shaq.
Overall, I see the potential. He also is very smart and chatty, a la teammate Spencer Hawes, and seems like a terrific kid. The Kings might be on to something with these two. The NBA can't have enough personalities ...

During the press conference Wednesday announcing Beno Udrih's formal re-signing with the Kings, his New York-based agents, Marc and Natasha Cornstein, revealed that this was their first trip to Sacramento. Great. Nice introduction. Looking toward downtown from Natomas, all anyone could see was an eerie silhouette of the skyline. This was at 2 p.m. I explained to the Cornsteins that, while our air is never great, it also is never this bad. Usually, you can at least see the trees. They promised to visit again during the season. One can only hope the fires are extinguished by then.
At least the Cornsteins were staying at a hotel close to Arco Arena. They were spared the further indignity of having to contend with the repair work on I-5. Have to say though, it's not as horrific as anticipated. C.C. Myers obviously knows what he's doing. Now, if only Arnold Schwarzenegger would ban fireworks and campfires within the state during the summer season ... well, never mind. Can't expect the governor to do anything that radical (and reasonable).
Then again. Why not? The bad air must be wreaking havoc on the outdoor recreational programs for area youngsters. I refuse to let my dog outside for extended breaks and am passionately encouraging my nephew's love of reading ...

Geoff Petrie's ordeal
From what I'm hearing - and, yes, he confirmed it - Geoff Petrie refused to return any phone calls inquiring about the Ron Artest availability between July 1-9, the period for players to declare for free agency and begin negotiating with teams. Petrie, who has a thing for following the rules, and never takes anything for granted, skipped town while waiting for Udrih's official signing. The Kings basketball president went to a Stevie Wonder concert in Reno on Friday, returned Saturday, then awakened at 6 a.m. Sunday to watch the Wimbledon singles final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadel.
A huge tennis fan, Petrie said he originally planned to watch some of the event live, and tape the remainder, became so transfixed that he watched the match in its entirety. Count him among those who rank the match as arguably the greatest singles event ever ...

Corey Maggette signing no surprise
After losing Baron Davis and failing to entice Elton Brand to northern California, I'm not at all surprised by the Warriors' aggressive pursuit of Corey Maggette. Among other things, Don Nelson has been an admirer since his days with the Dallas Mavericks. Had Maggette spurned the overtures, Ron Artest might have been next on the list.
As for why Petrie is so paranoid about free agency ... the Davis and Brand situations have something to do with it. Players, owners, agents can say anything - and often do - but nothing is official until the contracts are signed. Petrie was noticeably relieved during the press conference at Chris Webber's Center Court restaurant.

Looking ahead
I am looking forward to seeing first-round draft choice Jason Thompson for the first time during Thursday's workouts. And while you shouldn't ever read too much into this, it was interesting to hear that Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia are in town for the first week of summer league workouts. Their commitment to the organization is both apparent and refreshing.

July 3, 2008
The waiting game

Still looking to deal
While there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that Geoff Petrie intends to trade Ron Artest as soon as possible given Ron-Ron's recent outburst and dissatisfaction with his contract situation, don't expect anything to happen before the July 9th signing date. Petrie won't make a move until Beno Udrih formally rejoins the Kings. But that doesn't mean he hasn't compiled a trade wish-list or begun entertaining offers. The same teams that were intererested in Artest before he committed to the final year (and $7.4 million) of his contract continue to find him appealing, especially in light of his expiring contract. The Lakers, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, among others, will be exchanging phone calls with in the near future.

Spencer learning quickly
One of my Kings sources told me late last night that Spencer Hawes was really upset - no surprise there - about the settlement that apparently will enable his hometown Sonics to move from Seattle to Oklahoma City. Hawes, a diehard Sonics fans, attended the Save Our Sonics rally two weeks ago at the downtown courthouse, dressed in a Gary Payton jersey. While we blue-state types might quibble about his Republican politics - the lad is the offspring of two unabashed liberals! - you have to love his passion.
Hawes, by the way, continues working toward his degree at the University of Washington. He currently is enrolled in accelerated classes.

June 15, 2008
Oh, now I get it ....

LOS ANGELES - Mystery solved. Immediately after the Lakers' unimpressive Game 5 victory over the Boston Celtics, I happened upon David Stern while he was waiting for his wife, Diane, outside the women's restroom in the back of Staples Center. As I was about to blurt out the obvious question - whether the Commissioner had any concerns about assigning Dick Bavetta because of the stress he must be experiencing from Tim Donaghy's unfounded allegations - one of my colleagues beat me to it.
Stern explained that Bavetta was "next up on the wheel," referring to the playoff rotation for the referees. He then added that he never considered replacing the longtime ref - who was one of the officials who worked the controversial Kings-Lakers Game 6 - because of Donaghy's claims that two of the refs that night (Bavetta, Bob Delaney, Ted Bernhardt) "conspired" to influence the outcome and extend the series per the league's desires.
I have to agree with Stern on this. Bavetta's a big boy. He has to deal with this sooner or later. It would have been terribly unfair to remove him from the rotation because of a convicted felon's claims or reports that the FBI inquired about him last summer.

June 15, 2008
On the spot

LOS ANGELES - About 30 minutes ago, veteran referee Dick Bavetta strolled across the Staples Center court here at the NBA Finals, stopping briefly to make small talk with a few reporters. Bavetta - one of the three officials who worked the infamous Game 6 - drew tonight's assignment for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. And for obvious reasons, he looked pretty stressed, almost sheepish. Former referee Hue Hollins early last week said that the FBI inquired about Bavetta - and whether there were any indications he influenced the outcome of games - during their probe of the Tim Donaghy betting scandal.
Bavetta must feel like he's under the microscope. I don't know how he is going to officiate with a clear head tonight.
Still, that's what you do. You go to work.

What to believe?
Being down here when Donaghy's Game 6 allegations surfaced has enabled me to seek opinions from colleagues from other newspapers and cable outlets around the country, many of whom have covered the NBA for decades and were here for Game 6. The sentiment has been almost universal: (1) Game 6 was the worst officiated postseason game in decades; (2) that fourth-quarter was particularly ugly; (3) Bavetta, Bob Delaney and Ted Bernhardt just had terrible nights.
I haven't spoken with anyone (I would trust) who believes any of the three refs had an agenda or were involved in some sort of league-inspired conspiracy to extend the series. I will say it again and again. Unless Donaghy and his attorneys provide some serious evidence, I'm not buying the conspiracy theories. Among other things, David Stern is much too smart and has too much integrity to place his sport in that type of jeopardy.

Kareem's tutelage
Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who is the Laker's big man's coach, has been working with Pau Gasol, trying to get the lanky forward/center to better establish his "core." Kareem wants Gasol to utilize the strength in his hips, ostensibly to keep him from being pushed around so much

June 14, 2008
The pressure on Kobe ...

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant is starting to sound like he anticipates an avalanche of critcism if, as expected, the Lakers lost this series. And while Celtics coach Doc Rivers defended Bryant as the the most "unfairly" criticized player in the league, the old debate - when to involve teammates, when to take over a game - is becoming a recurring theme.
Longtime Lakers assistant Jim Cleamons repeatedly referred to a need for "balance" in the offense, and specifically noted his club's 18-point first-half lead in Game Four. "Kobe didn't score a point in that half," said Clemons, "but we moved the ball and got everybody involved."
As one humorous aside a few minutes later, Bryant said he recovered from Thursday's bruising defeat by reading Harry Potter to his daughters.
"They just wanted me to read to them," he said, "and I swear it was awesome. He (Potter) had more problems dealing with the media and the Celtics."

June 13, 2008
Striving for perspective

LOS ANGELES - After Phil Jackson and Doc Rivers addressed members of the media during Friday's interview sessions - both coaches gave their players the day off - several of us engaged in what proved to be an eerily prescient conversation before leaving the Lakers practice facility in El Segundo.
Longtime Atlanta Hawks media director Arthur Triche, who is most well-liked and efficient people in the business, was talking about how his ongoing bout with cancer has taught him "not to sweat the small stuff." Triche, who recently underwent a second surgery and chemotherapy at M.D. Anderson in Houston, says that when someone wants to argue these days, he simply walks away. Only in his 40s, Triche added that, "I don't take the losses nearly as hard as I used to."
At about this point, two league publicists walked over, caught the end of Triche's comments, then mentioned something like, "Yeah, just look at Tim Russert." They then relayed the news of the brilliant CNBC political analyst's passing hours earlier.
As word spread, everyone stood around in shock. Several of the journalists knew Russert personally. One had just hung out with him at a hotel pool about a month ago. But we all wondered whether the constant deadline pressure inherent in the industry contributed (or caused) his heart attack.

Not looking so good, either ....
Jackson has had both hips replaced within the past few years, but he still looks like he's in tremendous pain when he walks. Never graceful to begin with, his gait is awkward, more like a limp than a stroll. The other day I chatted with him as we walked out of the loading docks at Staples Center, and he walked deliberately, with a cane.
How many more years can Our Friend Phil keep this up? The flights, the hotel beds, the pressure, and the frenetic schedule take a toll. And Jackson has had significant physical issues since his playing days with the New York Knicks.

Painful, poignant memories
If the Celtics clinch the series Sunday, Rivers is going to be an emotional wreck. Within the past 13 months, he has experienced the following: been exorciated by Celtics fans, who urged Danny Ainge to find another coach; lost his father to cancer during the regular season; guided a roster with strong-willed veterans Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to within a victory of a title.
When someone asked Doc if he had spent any time ruminating about his close relationship with his father, the Celtics coach completely choked up. After a long pause, he finally said, "That's a tough one for me to talk about."

Motivating Kobe
Pierce asked to defend Kobe in the second half of Game 4, but apparently, that wasn't what was on Kobe's mind early Friday. According to Jackson, who spoke briefly with his players before sending them home, his star was more intrigued by Garnett's post-game comments. (I mentioned them in my blog last night).
In essence, Garnett suggested that the Lakers generally play "team ball" during the first two periods, and "second half is usually, Kobe takes over games. It just looks like they wanted to get the ball to Kobe and sort of let him finish it off ... It didn't really look cohesive."
Jackson didn't elaborate, but you get the picture.

LOS ANGELES - To say that the Lakers were stunned by the manner of their defeat tonight would be a major understatement. But it is becoming increasingly apparent that the Celtics - contrary to the pre-Finals projections - are the superior team. Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are creating too many matchup problems, their defensive tenacity is exceptional, and on nights like tonight, when their subs spread the floor, they are very difficult to defeat.
The Lakers just aren't getting consistent enough scoring from their second and third options, and those defensive breakdowns tonight were crippling. (see the Ray Allen-Sasha Vujacic sequence).
I thought Kevin Garnett had a very interesting observation. He suggested the Lakers blew their huge lead partly because they began relying too much on Kobe Bryant. "If you've paid attention to them at all," said Garnett, "usually the first half is team ball, second half is usually when Kobe takes over the games. They weren' t nearly as aggressive as they were in the first half. It just looks like they wanted to get the ball to Kobe and let him sort of finish it off. It didn't really look cohesive."

Good news for the Celtics
The stats indicate that, for the Celtics to lose this best-of-seven series after claiming a 3-1 lead, it would take a collapse of epic proportions. The team leading 3-1 has claimed the championship every time.
But you would never know the C's were this close to another title based on Danny Ainge's demeanor. The Celtics' general manager calmly strolled the hallway outside the visitors locker room after the game, pausing to chat with reporters. It's hard to believe that, a year ago, his team was rebuilding and his longime star Paul Pierce increasingly restless. that's one of the unique aspects of the NBA. Once in a while, a franchise is transformed almost over night. Or in this case, in one offseason.


June 12, 2008
More from Staples ...

LOS ANGELES - I just finished a conversation with Joe Maloof, who was at the Palms in Las Vegas, and among other things, he is as curious as everyone else about what David Stern plans to say.
Joe admitted that he had been dodging the media the past few days - mostly to avoid saying something imprudent, which he has been known to do - but decided to speak out after being barraged by e-mails and phone calls. And, in typical Joe Maloof fashion, he became increasingly animated as the conversation continued. (Ok, I keep pushing to gain a truer sense of his feelings.)
Clearly, he still believes the Kings were robbed and is still angry about the outcome. But he repeatedly labeled any potential manipulation as "implausible, impossible." Coming from an owner who runs a business in Las Vegas, it sounded pretty convincing. One thing that was pretty funny: He couldn't resist a dig at Phil Jackson, the coach he tried to hire at the end of 2005-06 season, one might recall. Well. If you can't beat them, hire them, right?

A few quick pre-game thoughts
Jackson, who is never shy about tweaking his players, defended Pau Gasol against suggestions that his starting center was, well, soft. "I think that would be the reputation Pau came to us with," said the Lakers coach, "but he's constantly risen to the occasion in every series we've gone through this year. The last game (three) obviously was not a great game for him, but we believe that he's going to have another real good game for us. I won't touch the soft (stuff), though."

Rondo set to go
Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo was listed in the starting lineup, but coach Doc Rivers planned to keep a close watch on his mobility. Rondo's best asset is his quickness, and if he is hampered by his sore ankle, Rivers says he will go back to Eddie House, the one-time Kings guard who happens to be Mike Bibby's brother-in-law.

LOS ANGELES - The referee scandal and the discussion Kings-Lakers and Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference finals continues unabated. Here at the Staples Center, journalists continue approaching and asking what it actually looked like to those of us who were here in the building that night.
As I continue to say, as strange as the officiating must have seemed on television, it was even more bizarre for those who were present - on and off the court.
Journeyman guard Damon Jones, who is providing analysis throughout the series for NBA.com, wandered over and reminded me that he was on the team that year. (Jones, who has a year remaining on his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, has played for so many clubs, it's hard to keep track).
"That game was so tough," he said, shaking his head. "I don't know. I don't know. We all felt the same way."


The Staples experience ....

With all the distractions created by the referee situation, I forgot to blog about the amazing development ongoing outside Staples Center. The last time I was here on assignment, probably about two years, the area across 11th Street consisted of two massive parking lots. But when I drove down Adams the other afternoon before Game 3, I almost missed the turn. I felt like I was in a different country. Those surface parking lots have been supplanted by the glitzy Nokia Theatre and entertainment plaza, with an ESPN zone, restaurants and other entertainment venues under construction.
Frankly, the change is simply stunning. Having worked at the old Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, which was located a few blocks away during the 1980s, I never would have envisioned the extent of the transformation. I guess I should visit more often, huh?


Stern to speak
This should be interesting. An NBA publicist just came into the media work room and informed us that David Stern will hold a press conference at 5:45. I can't say I'm surprised. We've all been waiting to hear more from the Commissioner.

LOS ANGELES - So much for covering another routine game at the NBA Finals. Word of the Tim Donaghy's allegations reached the Staples Center midway Tuesday afternoon, and from that point in, the entire evening had a strange, almost surreal feel.

Reporters hung near the entrances awaiting the arrival of David Stern and former Kings backup Scot Pollard, one of the the two centers who fouled out in the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference finals. (Pollard lasted a whopping 11 minutes). Stern spoke only briefly with reporters, but managed to level a few timely blows at his former disgraced referee.

"The only concern I have is that when a letter gets filed on behalf of a convicted felon, my concern is that the news media run with it as a major blockbuster series of allegations, when in fact, this guy is dancing as fast as he can to throw as much against the wall so his sentence won't be as hard, put more at risk," said the NBA Commissioner. "(But) pretty much he's a singing, cooperating witness who's trying to get as light a sentence as he can."

Pollard, the one-time Kings quipster and current Celtics reserve who is recovering from ankle injuries and won't play during the series, was deadly serious this time. He leaned against a wall outside the visitors locker room for quite a while before the game, talking with clusters reporters as they approached. He seems very conflicted about the developments. He still believes the Kings were ripped off, especially with the series of phantom calls in the fourth quarter, but sounds hopeful that Donagy's spouting turns out to be unsubstantiated.

Yet this is pretty funny. His worst memory from that series wasn't Game 6 or even the blown opportunity in Game 7.

You can probably guess what comes next.

The Robert Horry shot lives on.

Finally off the couch

Hall of Famer Bill Walton - who describes himself these days as the father of Luke - was able to watch his son play in person Tuesday for the first time in months. The senior Walton, an NBA analyst for ESPN, has been sidelined the past few months with back and hip injuries. But he was mobile enough to make the drive from his home in San Diego earlier Tuesday with his wife, Lori.

While he was chatting with a few of us, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar approached and asked how his UCLA heir was feeling. "Good," Walton replied, as two of the greatest centers in league history bumped knuckles.

The Staples crowd was pretty impressive last night for sure: In an area outside the media dining tent, the following NBA luminaries lingered: Walton, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, along with the venerable Jack Ramsay, who has been battling cancer, but looks much healthier than he has in a long time. Former Kings rival (and aspiring actor) Rick Fox also ambled past, and said he was working on a new television series about a football coach.

Keeping up with KJ

Before he was enveloped by a throng of reporters asking for his insight on Kings-Lakers, Donaghy, and all things related to the series, Magic asked what was happening with his former Phoenix Suns rival Kevin Johnson. Magic said he heard KJ was headed for a runoff with Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo, and said he might hold another fundraiser for the challenger.

Magic certainly seems to like politicians. Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides runs his foundation. The former Lakers great (and minority owner) expects Angelides to attend Game 4 on Thursday.

June 9, 2008
Back to L.A.

LOS ANGELES - Not that I needed any reminders that I was traveling to L.A. to cover the middle games of the NBA Finals, but while walking toward baggage claim in the Southwest Airlines concourse at LAX earlier this afternoon, I noticed a commotion near Gate 3. Insatiably curious by nature - as are most journalists - I wandered over and saw Jerry West standing behind a table, making small talk with fans and posing for photos with the Larry O'Brien trophy. As I later learned, the Lakers icon was at LAX to "welcome" the championship series trophy from Boston, per the league's ongoing promotion with the airlines.

One of the security guard's told me that West already had been there for about 30 minutes before I arrived. (I saw him accommodate a few of the police officers who asked for a photo op toward the end of the session). At one point, the former Lakers great looked up and saw me standing behind the crowd, holding my computer roller bag and a stack of newspapers. He made eye contact and laughed. I called out to him, "Are they paying you extra for this?" He rolled his eyes ...

One of the things that always impressed me about West - who has long been known both for his accessibility with reporters and responding loudly when he doesn't like what he reads - is that he will do just about anything for his sport. He feels a genuine debt to the NBA for enabling him to enjoy what has turned out to be a pretty lavish lifestyle. I can recall three specific formal dinners where West, who was either the honoree or honoring one of his former Lakers teammates, broke down while talking about his career.

Phil's apparent memory issues

Longtime Kings fans will probably appreciate this: After the Celtics were awarded 38 free throws to the Lakers' 10 in Game 2 Sunday evening, Phil Jackson was quoted as follows: "I've never seen a game like that in all these years I've coached the Finals. Unbelieveable."

Now, while Game 6 of the memorable Kings-Lakers series in 2002 was only a conference finals, surely Phil hasn't forgotten? In the game that many of the NBA's longtime observers publicly and privately labeled a travesty - among them Sport Illustrated's Jack McCallum and Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke, who were seated baseline at Staples Center - the Lakers shot 27 free throws IN THE FOURTH QUARTER to the Kings' 9. Vlade Divac and Scot Pollard both fouled out after receiving ticky tack calls in the fourth period.

Interestingly, the officiating crew that night included veteran referee Bob Delaney, who in yet another hilarious aside, was shown receiving an earful from Jackson during Sunday's game.

SAN ANTONIO - As the postseason continues toward its conclusion, perhaps Friday night in Arco Arena, the issues that Geoff Petrie has to address during the offseason are increasingly apparent. Besides resolving Rick Adelman’s
situation - and assuming that the roster will be adjusted to complement Ron Artest’s skills - he clearly has to upgrade the roster in two areas - power forward and perimeter shooting. Brad Miller is a high post center who can pass, shoot, and there was a time, collect close to 10 rebounds per game. But the power forward spot has been problematic, particularly on the defensive side, since Chris Webber blew out his knee in Dallas. Petrie undoubtedly will try to maneuver to acquire someone who can offset Miller’s lack of mobility and athleticism.

Kenny Thomas is only 6-foot-7, and erratic at both ends. Shareef Abdur-Rahim is only 6-foot-9, and probably best-suited as a reserve. He is not nearly as quick or effective as he once was, though his jump-hook remains is a terrific option.

And when you study the Spurs - the model for Western Conference teams, if not the league - the their balance is exceptional. They make it difficult for opponents to attack the basket, which makes it imperative to (a) score in
transition and (b) space the floor with three-point shooters. In the deciding three minutes in Game 5, for instance, Mike Bibby was the Kings’ only consistent outside shooter on the floor, and he labored through a 3-for-12 night.

The effort is there, and Artest is sensational, but the Kings have holes. Petrie will have a busy summer.

SAN ANTONIO - Those mood swings inside Arco Arena these days are dramatic, to say the least.

But there was something very different going on Sunday night. For the first time in three postseasons, I started to sense that Kings fans actually believe their team has a chance to play the role of the upstart, of the underachiever, instead of the annual victim. Was it when Ron Artest chased down his own errant shot and scored just before intermission? When Brad Miller caught a pass and, without hesitation, stroked a jumper from the left side in the third period? During that sequence when Bonzi Wells powered into the lane for that rebound basket that prompted the spontaneous chanting from the crowd? Whenever it was, it had seeped into the air, something akin to a verbal swagger.

Given the club’s history, even the most faithful Kings fan had myriad reasons to be skeptical. Robert Horry ring a cowbell? Remember how the Kings squandered a double-digit lead while Vlade Divac twitched on the bench during
the Game 3 overtime loss to the Dallas Mavs in 2003. That Chris Webber debate in 2004 (should he start or sub?). The uninspiring performance in
last year’s brief series with the Seattle Sonics? Those first two losses in San Antonio seemed to feed right into Sacramento’s annual swan song: There they go again.

But the tenor of Sunday’s convincing victory was a complete shocker. The smart money was on the Spurs. How dumb was that? Ron Artest and Bonzi Wells are providing that mental and physical toughness that has been lacking since Bobby Jackson’s early, healthier days, and their size, strength and relentlessness are continuing to cause matchup problems. The Spurs also
are having little success attacking the interior - once an infamous Sacramento soft spot - and at least partly because of Tim Duncan’s foot problem, the Kings have become increasingly selective about their double-teams, no longer automatically running at Duncan and leaving themselves vulnerable from the perimeter. Manu Ginobili just looks lost, stunned by his inability to create much of anything with Artest forever hugging his hip.

I don’t envy Gregg Popovich right now. The Spurs’ coach is probably poring over psychology books as we speak. The world champs don’t want to become one of the few No.1 seeds ousted by No. 8, especially a team that scrambled to
make the playoffs. So I’ll stick with my original prediction - Spurs in six. I still think there is too much talent, versatility, experience and coaching, along with the homecourt advantage, for a San Antonio collapse. But it’s a shaky prediction. The Kings are showing me something. The Kings are hanging tough.

Not to take anything away from the Detroit Pistons, but the more time I spend around the San Antonio Spurs, the more confidence I have in my preseason prediction that the Spurs will repeat as champions. Gregg Popovich’s teams always defend tenaciously.

But their offense is more fluid than in the past - their ball movement in Game 1 was absolutely stunning - and their depth is terrific. Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel just add more dimensions to an already-talented roster. If Tim Duncan can avoid aggravating his right foot ailment and Tony Parker continues to perform like he did the other night, no one is going to touch the Spurs. They are an absolute pleasure to watch, skilled and unselfish, and much more entertaining now that they play at a faster pace.

As I wrote several months back, I also believe Popovich should have been named the 2008 U.S. Olympic coach. Besides being more knowledgeable about the international game than any other NBA head coach with the exception of Mike D’Antoni, he possesses all the skills of the great head coaches. He is a stickler for details, as demanding as it gets, and can be a bit of a control freak. But he is also a great communicator and has become much more comfortable in his role as a public figure.

Besides, he loves good food and fine wine. During off-days on road trips to Golden State or Sacramento, Pop usually makes a side trip to Napa or Sonoma.

Geez, this was pathetic. The only thing salvaging the evening here in San Antonio -- which included an absolutely horrible basketball game -- was that very little was made about Ron Artest’s prediction. Maybe now we can all get on with the series. For those who might have missed it: Artest envisions himself as the team leader, and accordingly, at times feels almost compelled to thrust out his chest and say something outlandish to seemingly take the pressure off his teammates.

Before the series against the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs, the veteran small forward, who missed the playoffs with the Indiana Pacers last year because of his season-ending suspension, repeatedly proclaimed that the Kings would advance into the second round. And I don’t have a problem with that. In fact, I applaud his competitiveness.

What was he supposed to say? That he expected the Spurs to win? Saturday night’s debacle notwithstanding, his intensity is refreshing. He plays hard, and as was evident last night, he plays hurt. After Manu Ginobili tagged him with an inadvertent elbow to the mouth a mere 18 seconds into the game, Artest crumpled to the court, yet played 35 minutes with a lip that became so inflamed that he was unable to speak with reporters afterward -- an almost unheard of occurrence.

One of the most impressive things about Artest, in fact, is his candor. He doesn’t censor his thoughts or his words. People either accept him or they don’t. And given that players and coaches often are inhibited for fear of harming their image, I’ll take candid mortals over carefully-guarded corporate clones any day.



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