The Kings Are Not All Right
By Anthony Bertacchi/KHTK Sports 1140
When you decide to hit rock bottom, humiliation is part of the deal. That quote comes to you courtesy of the French novelist, Guilaume Musso. There really isn't a better quote that I can find to properly put tonight's King's game (or Kings season for that matter) into the proper context. The team isn't deep; that part is clear. The team isn't full of ultra-talented players; that part is clear as well. However, when the team doesn't seem to care about anything other than if they can make their isolation shots, it makes the bad things so much worse.
The Sacramento Kings had a total of 15 assists at the end of the game against the Utah Jazz. Five of those assists came in the fourth quarter and more specifically, in the final eight minutes of the game. At that point in the game the Kings were already down by 21 points and all hope was lost.
Therefore, that leaves a grand total of just ten assists throughout the first three quarters against a team with, basically, the same record as the Kings. Before tonight's game the Kings were 17-31 and the Jazz were 17-33.
From 4:48 in the second quarter the Kings cut the deficit to only six as they were down 32-38 after a three-pointer by Ben McLemore from a Ramon Sessions assist. From that point until 1:02 in the third quarter the Kings had only one assist to four turnovers. In that time the Jazz had seven assists and two turnovers. The Kings went from being down 32-38 to being down 57-71. The Kings never got closer then 12 points after that.
If the Kings lose to a team like the Warriors you can accept it. Statistically they're the best team in the Western Conference and capable of anything from the three point line. If the Kings lose to a Cavalier team composed of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, you can accept it. All three are multiple time all stars and at one point the faces of their teams.
However, when you get your faced caved in by a Dallas Mavericks team that pulled a Gregg Popovich and purposely sat their Hall of Fame power forward for "rest" reasons the benefit of the doubt and slack is immediately revoked.
If not for a win against the struggling Indiana Pacers, the Kings would be in the middle of a 12 game losing streak. That sort of losing is what was expected from the 76ers when the year started and the New York Knicks over the last two months. Do you remember the optimistic start of the season? Do you remember hope and optimism at 9-5? Because, at this point, that's nothing more than a memory that doesn't look to ever be coming back. The best case scenario at this point would be, what, 30 wins?
The Kings have talent, at least enough talent to make games interesting. The beginning of the season proved that, at the very least. Two of the teams' starting five played this summer in the World Championships. This season was supposed to be the point in the movie where the once maligned protagonist turns his life around and starts to make real strides towards success. Instead, at this point, it's the real life version of the movie Less Than Zero. Spoiler alert: that movie doesn't end well.
Allegedly, the team is in talks with George Karl. At this point maybe he's the thing that will help this Humpty Dumpty team come back together. Maybe he's the basketball whisperer that will make everything better. Then again, if he is, doesn't that actually makes the team look worse? That proves that this entire team gave the metaphorical, and maybe literal middle finger to the organization after they fired Michael Malone.
Was the Michael Malone firing sudden? Yes. Was it something that shook the team to it's core? Maybe. Was it understandable that the team may struggle a little but in the immediate aftermath? Yes, but at this point, Tyrone Corbin is basically the substitute teacher trying to teach the class as everyone is texting and asleep in class. Can Karl, or whoever comes in later, save the team? Possibly, but it's not going to be easy.
If this team isn't at rock bottom, heaven help them once they finally reach it. The Kings have lost their last six games by an average of 18.83 points with losses by 23 to the Mavericks and 25 points to the Warriors twice. Well, at least the Kings get the Phoenix Suns and former point guard Isaiah Thomas on Sunday. At least there's no bad blood or any sort of hurt feelings with that team. What could possibly go wrong?...
