NBA: A Few Solutions for the Ailing Sacramento Kings
What do you call a team that has already suffered through losing streaks of six and eight games in its first 21 games of competition? Answer: the Sacramento Kings. Owners of the 29th best record in the league, the Kings continue to find new ways to define ineptitude and incompetence.
Both of the two players charged with improving this team's fortunes, DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans, are shooting under 40 percent from the field. Tyreke has taken a monumental step backwards in his sophomore campaign, and disappointment doesn't even begin to describe DeMarcus Cousins' minimal impact on the club thus far. The defense again is putrid, as Sacramento is at or near the very bottom of the league in every meaningful category.
Kings fans have been the recipients of far too much doom and gloom the past few seasons, so I will not sit here and pile on. I have solutions to turn around the fortunes of this once proud franchise.
1. Trade Jason Thompson
Just a short time ago, it was believed the young tandem of Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes would solidify the Kings frontcourt of the future. Fast forward to December of 2010 and Hawes is rotting on the end of an irrelevant Sixer bench and Thompson is entangled in a fully stocked big man rotation.
With his inconsistent minutes, Thompson has been pressing and often plays selfish in an attempt to impress the coaching staff. JT has discernible NBA skills, rebounding namely, but it's a simple equation of too many big men and not enough guards. Might the Pistons want out of that Ben Gordon contract?
2. Stick with a Starting Lineup Already
Coach Paul Westphal's one consistency since taking over as head coach is his inconsistency. He changes his starting lineups as frequently as he changes his underwear. Through just 21 games, only three out of the 13 players on the team haven't started a game. Way to establish definitive roles, coach. Start Udrih, Evans, Casspi, Landry, Dalembert. The lineup needs some clarity, and a firm rotation of eight or nine guys needs to be established.
3. Start Omri Casspi at Small Forward
Does Donte Greene have incriminating pictures of Paul Westphal? How has he remained the starter at small forward over Omri Casspi, when Omri shoots more efficiently from the field, from three and from the charity stripe, rebounds better and competes harder defensively. Starting small forwards in this league don't shoot 26 percent from three and 55 percent from the free-throw line. Start Omri, and stick with him, Westphal.
4. Give Some Tough Love to DeMarcus Cousins
I recognize DeMarcus Cousins' development as an integral issue. But not at the cost of the team's chemistry. Word is Cousins has been a major distraction on more than one occasion, and if this continues the coaching staff and ownership must show backbone that it won't be tolerated.
Do you think this would be an issue if a disciplinarian like Gregg Popovich or Larry Brown were head coach? Not a chance. Sit him down if he acts up. The kid is lucky to be in Sacramento, not the other way around.
5. Develop Tyreke Evans' Play-Making Skills
Were we all blinded by Tyreke's incredible penetrating skills so much last year that none of us noticed he can't make a play for somebody? He misses cutters, can't run pick-and-roll and can't shoot.
In his one year at Memphis, coach John Calipari put the ball in Tyreke's hands, worked on his ball handling skills and let him run the show. Tyreke's hopes of becoming a bona fide NBA star lie directly in the hopes that Geoff Petrie, Pete Carril and Paul Westphal can do the same for him at the NBA level. Work with him on running a pick and roll, work on his offensive patience.
Have him watch hours of tape of comparable big guards who ran a teams offense, like Anfernee Hardaway, LeBron James, Joe Johnson or even Magic Johnson. With his 6'6", 220 lb. frame and his dazzling ball control the sky is the limit if he can develop his ability to make others better. The Kings franchise hinges on it.
