Kings-Lakers Non-Rivarly, Memphis and Oklahoma City Battle at the Bottom

Let me be point out something that would seem out of character for me—I hated watching the Kings beat the Lakers on Tuesday night. 

Don’t get me wrong. 

I loved seeing John Salmons control the game at both ends of the floor. 

I also loved Francisco Garcia playing on nothing but adrenaline in the first half. 

I was pleasantly surprised that they could hang with the Lakers without Kevin Martin, let alone beat them handily. 

What pissed me off was the fact that Gavin Maloof was screaming and jumping around as if this was a do-over for the 2002 WCF.  After every three, defensive stop, or big dunk, they would cut to Gavin Magoof out of his seat screaming and pumping his fists. 

If Gavin is reading this, the Kings never had a rivalry with the Lakers, so I’m wondering how something that never existed still is around in your mind. 

Don’t get me wrong—no team gave the Lakers more trouble during the Shaq/Kobe era, but they still never beat the Lakers.  It was as much of a rivalry as Bugs Bunny versus Elmer Fudd.  One party constantly getting the better of the other does not a rivalry make.

That frustrated me immensely, and getting wins against top-flight teams (Lakers & Hornets for example) should only serve to frustrate Kings’ fans even more.  Where is this effort in winnable games against Memphis or in blowouts against Denver or Utah? 

The other issue is that every win means the Kings are that much further away from landing Ricky Rubio.  No offense to some of the players currently on the roster, but Rubio may make being a Kings’ fan worth it again. 

He would bring back the days of Jason Williams but in a package that is younger and more in control offensively and defensively.  I’m not exaggerating when I say that within five years he will be one of the top three point guards in the league. 

Again, no offense to Beno Udrih, but the Kings aren’t blowing anyone’s doors off with him.  Let’s see some more last-second losses to get the Kings in a position for long-term success.

Who do the Grizzlies think they are, getting in the way of history?  They need to realize that the likelihood of a team with single-digits in the win column may never happen in my lifetime with how watered-down expansion has made the league. 

A game like last night only gives the Thunder hope that they can pull off 10 wins this season, and the first step to success is hope.  They may have even walked into a win. 

The next time these teams play, I want the Grizzlies to steam-roll them into oblivion.  That’ll break their spirits. 

I must say that no one thought that this historic match-up would be the best game of the night, but you learn to always throw the records out when Memphis and OKC face off.  Of course this was probably the Thunder’s best chance at getting a win this month, and they wasted it.  Maybe there still is hope for history this season.

I still disagree with Talkhoops Creator Zach Harper that Marc Iavaroni is on his way out in Memphis.  I just don’t see how the cheapest ownership in basketball would pay someone not to coach the team.  They certainly wouldn’t pay two different people to coach the club. 

It does seem like Iavaroni is daring them to fire him with the rotations he is playing and their inconsistent performances.  Does he have an unwritten deal to join D’Antoni in New York?

There is something very calming about having Tim Duncan on your fantasy team.  You know what you’ll get from the guy every night.  He has stayed healthy his whole career.  He saves his best performances for late in the season.  Even his “off nights” are still 17 and nine with a block.  He is the anti-McGrady. 

I actually have both guys.  I’m almost considering changing my team’s name to The Duality of Man, but I think that may go over way too many heads.  Plus I don’t want to come off like a first semester psychology student.

The Dark Knight came out on DVD this week, and I feel like a crackhead with some rocks in the next room.  Christmas basically guarantees that I’m not allowed to purchase anything for myself for a two-month period, so I have to wait for another two weeks to get a movie that I’m dying to watch again. 

It was without question the best movie that has come out in the past year, and it succeeded in the seemingly impossible task of legitimizing comic book movies.  If you didn’t go see it in the theatre (it made half a billion dollars and was one of the best reviewed films of the year, and you still blew it off?), go rent it or put it on your Netflix queue‚—or better yet, buy it, because it is worth the $20. 

I would put it up there with Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style for the greatest movie ever put to film.  Now if they could only combine the two…

My two cents on the Suns-Bobcats trade: I actually like it for the Suns.  Matt Barnes has basically replaced the production that Raja Bell has given them for the past 2 seasons.  Boris Diaw has never been the same since signing his big contract after his fluke season.  Jason Richardson has never played with a true point guard, and he should reap huge rewards and produce big offensive numbers playing alongside Nash.  He is also a pretty good defender and can drain from three with open looks.  He should have plenty with Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shaquille O’Neal.  I love him as a third option on offense, and they’ll now be able to outplay just about any small line-up.  This does hurt their front-court depth especially if one of their bigs gets injured.  I want it to work out.  Steve Kerr and Terry Porter are both good guys and deserve the benefit of a year or two on the job.

Don’t agree with what I have this week?  Email me at [e-mail] and I may print your letter in a future column and politely tear you apart.

Remember there is more to life than basketball, but it isn’t much.  As always a little good knowledge goes a long way.