| No Blues For This Blueprint Authored by Bob Souza - March 2, 2005 - 10:14 pm
As the dust begins to settle, the new order of the Kings appears to be taking form. The team is closing down a brutal and eventful road trip, some of which would be better off forgotten. But hey, that’s the NBA.
Doesn’t seem like any major rules have been broken.
Coming into focus is the reality that Geoff Petrie didn’t suddenly become a loon, didn’t completely give up on the season. Trading Chris Webber wasn’t an idea he hatched while munching on his bowl of Cap’n Crunch – deviously concocting a scheme to spin the city on its collective ears - then snickering aloud.
There was some serious reasoning for the plan, by the man.
How could he know that game ticket sales would be much brisker than usual following such a surprising transaction? Hmmm.
How could he know that Webber would fail to tie the game with that last second effort against his former mates? Hmmm.
Okay, that one’s a stretch. But it’s not exactly like Webber has a history of making the huge plays. And it certainly looked like he could have made a strong move to the bucket instead of that pathetic little flip-return, then pulling people down with him to give the outward show of oodles of contact. Call it suspicious.
Chris has always been about the bad, but also the good. His recent generous donation of art exhibits to the Crocker Museum, and the full-page newspaper spread thanking the organization and the fans of Sacramento were thoughtful, classy and certainly uncommon moves.
What Petrie realizes is that he was getting 3 serviceable players at the same moment he was moving out 2 marginal ones, and a ton of salary tied to a guy with a knee that continues to bark.
Kenny Thomas scored 16 points with 10 rebounds against Philly, and followed that up with 12 rebounds against Washington when former Warrior and all-star Gilbert Arenas torched the Kings for 43. Thomas also had 13 points and 12 boards against Charlotte.
Corliss Williamson scored 17 points against the 76ers, and had 18 versus Charlotte.
Brian Skinner contributed 15 points and 16 rebounds against the Bobcats, and added another 12 points against Orlando. He gives the team more toughness inside.
Yeah, the Kings stunk up the building in Charlotte – but better to leave the rotting stench there than to discharge it at home. And with Brad Miller, Peja Stojakovic, and Darius Songaila sitting with maladies, that ugly outcome wasn’t too horribly surprising.
Though the loss against the Magic was less than uplifting, Stojakovic finally returned. Without C-Webb running the show, he was a major contributor with 28 points in 39 minutes. Maybe it’s the start of something. Of course with Shaq and the Heat still looming, this trip could very well conclude with an odorous thud.
So the new musketeers have already made their presence felt, and are blissfully happy to be Kings. Nothing like a happy ballplayer to promote team unity – but it’s time to get this jolly bunch home for some practice and serious jelling.
Renewed optimism is a great thing. Fans are now busy scooching to the edges of their couches, salivating for the day when all those big bodies get healthy and start sweating together. Oh, and winning of course.
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