| Unpredictable Ride Comes To Predictable End Authored by Bob Souza - May 4, 2005 - 7:54 pm
Five games were all Seattle needed, squeezing by a charged-up bunch from Sacramento in the finale, 122-118. The Kings made their presence known; they didn’t lie down like dogs.
But they played like puppies.
Getting out-boarded 43-25 says more about the Kings than it ever will about the Sonics. This was a zone of weakness that squirmed and begged to be exposed. And it was.
Kenny Thomas is willing, but doesn’t have the size. Peja Stojakovic has the size, but is unwilling. Brad Miller has the size and is willing, but just didn’t have any lift from his newly refurbished leg.
Who’s left? Well, Corliss Williamson managed to snare 2 whole rebounds in ten minutes, Darius Songaila picked one, and Greg Ostertag never left the bench. That’s it.
Your muscle-machine, ready for action.
The 2004-2005 campaign dutifully comes to a merciful close, and let’s be honest – why prolong the agony? The Kings failed all year to capture that beloved look, the proud one that every winner wears.
From the outset, you had the hunch this would be no ordinary season. When one of your best players is asking for a trade before any games have begun, it’s not a good sign. Call it morbid telepathy.
Between numerous injuries and blockbuster trades, this team never was able to develop the cohesive quality so important in the game of basketball. Uncertainty, bordering on panic, was all too often the method of choice.
And defense? That seems to be a forbidden word on most nights. Of course, that has always been the case. In the past, the mode of operation sparkled due to the running and passing of players that are no longer around. Playing defense was an afterthought.
That was then – this is now.
Through it all, this team still managed to win 50 games in an up and down journey. Finding two of their most important players out for much of the year, then having to re-adjust to their presence at the start of the post-season was probably hoping for too much. Seattle is a good team, but they only finished 2 games better than the Kings. And that, after winning something like 17 of their first 20.
So the wacky season comes to an abrupt end, and we can all begin the process of guesswork about next year’s edition. There will be changes – there always is.
Expect to see much speculation about Rick Adelman’s future with the Kings. His contract had been extended and he has been given a public vote of confidence by the management. But his teams have never played much defense, and that is an area that absolutely must change. His substitutions have also been very suspect – it was obvious Peja and Mike Bibby would need more blows in game five, to be fresh at the finish. That didn’t happen, and it hurt.
The most likely key players to return are Stojakovic, Miller, Bibby, and Bobby Jackson. They form a solid nucleus to build on. Kenny Thomas is a fine role guy, as is Darius Songaila. Both may be back, but could also find themselves as components of a trade. Maurice Evans should be retained, having been a pleasant surprise off the bench.
Cuttino Mobley will probably be gone, as the fit never quite happened with him. Brian Skinner and Williamson should be history. We’ve seen enough of them to know it ain’t gonna work.
Greg Ostertag? Can he get in shape next year to be of some use?
The biggest need for the Kings (other than defense) is for a monster power forward and a shooting guard, should Mobley leave. Look for them to upgrade those two positions somehow.
Wild local conjecture spins around Kevin Garnett, who has expressed an interest in Sacramento, and Phil Jackson, who has yet to. Either one of those dudes would instantly help the team, along with that “other” big problem.
The Arena.
Will Sacramento get a new one? The early playoff exit and a somewhat disappointing season will of course dampen much of the enthusiasm. At this point, there needs to be a new spark of creativity from somewhere to get it done.
So we wait.
The off-season is sure to be a wild one in a lot of ways. Hard to believe it could get any crazier than it’s been. |
