Sacramento Kings @ The Motor City

[Ballings7]

Salmons needs to get with it if he is frustrated. I have come to absolutely love the guy, easily one of my favorite players, and top 3 favorite Kings - but this stuff has to stop. If something iffy is going on.

[RIPskaterdude]

Salmons didn't do anything to show he was frustrated with his lack of playing time, but I'm sure he knew this was coming.

[Ballings7]

Cmon now. IMO some of us are looking too much into this. Artest is one of our best players, of course we're going to go to him at the end of games. He just hit a clutch 3 off the dribble, and penetrated and got Miller a layup in which he got fouled.

Agreed.

That's how it is in general. For awhile now, too. Sure there are games at times during the season where he takes more than a small amount of questionable/bad shots, but that doesn't happen nearly enough for it to be such an issue as people generally make it out to be. Sometimes it's just strange.

Ron had a couple shots that weren't good. And really, the 2nd one was just good defense by Rasheed. Other than that, his touches were fine or productive.

His shot selection being medicore-poor (tonight and generally), just gets exaggerated too much. Most of the time he looks to pass and score, both significantly. Not lop-sided. His play-making ability is constantly overlooked and underrated. It's not like Kobe/Wade/T-Mac, but that doesn't make it an insignificant ability for him, because in doing so he's versatile and above-average in effectiveness.

[Wolfay]

We just swept the Pistons! If anyone on the team is mad, let him not play the game of basketball ever again.

We're a team to be reckoned with if we can play with any consistency. I wouldn't be surprised nor disappointed if Petrie doesn't make any moves before the deadline.

[bibby1023]

Great job tonight for the kings, I just can't wait until SAR comes back so we can get moore out of there....does anyone know when SAR's coming back?

[SacKingZZZ]

Wow Salmons has gone from a guy who looked unstoppable to non-existent the last couple games, no Douby either. We gotta make a move and clear up some minutes for these guys.

RIP John Salmons.

[SacKingZZZ]

Salmons needs to get with it if he is frustrated. I have come to absolutely love the guy, easily one of my favorite players, and top 3 favorite Kings - but this stuff has to stop. If something iffy is going on.

Iffy!? Who's the "bench" here? I thought he was a starter. You don't typically play your starters less than your bench guys. Your bench guys don't usually end up getting 3 times the shot attempts that your "starters" do. I think it's time for Reggie to just put Ron, Mike, and Kevin back in the starting lineup because it's pretty clear what's happening here.

Petrie needs to wake up, we'll see if he does. He had a chance to move Kenny once upon a time, sat on it and screwed the pooch. Lets hope he doesn't let a similar circumstance occur once more.

[pillwenney]

When did he have a chance to move Kenny? There have been times when he offered up deals for Kenny. But as far as I know, he hasn't turned anything like that down.

[KF10]

When did he have a chance to move Kenny? There have been times when he offered up deals for Kenny. But as far as I know, he hasn't turned anything like that down.

IIRC we rejected a Desmond Mason FOR K9 deal... Damn, we should have gotten that deal...(But K9 actually was solid in that year)

[Ballings7]

No, I think that was rejected too, by the Bucks. As did the Hornets with a deal for KT.

[KF10]

No, I think that was rejected too, by the Bucks. As did the Hornets with a deal for KT.

Really? Eh, probably... But for a fact, I know that there was several deals for Kenny but Petrie rejected them.... Thomas was actually good but disappeared....

[SacKingZZZ]

When did he have a chance to move Kenny? There have been times when he offered up deals for Kenny. But as far as I know, he hasn't turned anything like that down.

Houston offered Stro Swift for him a few years ago. Could have saved us a year on his deal in the least.

I think the Mason deal was going to happen until the Hornets stepped in and offered Magloire.

[Ballings7]

Iffy!?

Yes, I said that in response to a few posters talking about Salmons being pissed and he must be pissed. I still don't know if he was, but if he was, it needs to stop. Settle things with Reggie and realize he's not going to have a role like tonight and at Toronto. Because Salmons being strange happened earlier this year too, and obviously that was settled.

I'd want that to stop, wouldn't you? It's up to Reggie and the team to fix this, if something was going on again. Just like last time at Minnesota.

If you are unfamiliar, go look back in the thread 1 or 2 pages before my post. You'll see where my post intention came from.

Who's the "bench" here? I thought he was a starter. You don't typically play your starters less than your bench guys. Your bench guys don't usually end up getting 3 times the shot attempts that your "starters" do. I think it's time for Reggie to just put Ron, Mike, and Kevin back in the starting lineup because it's pretty clear what's happening here.

I agree. I think he will very soon.

But I never mentioned anything relating to the bench. I just talked about Salmons possibly being upset, in general. I personally never noticed anything, and Salmons was never focused on a closer up camera view at all in the game. On the Detroit broadcast.

[Ballings7]

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Really? Eh, probably... But for a fact, I know that there was several deals for Kenny but Petrie rejected them.... Thomas was actually good but disappeared....

Well I'm not sure of the specifics, but two deals were turned down by the Hornets and Bucks, involving KT.

[Ballings7]

Coach Reggie Theus said he wanted to ease the usual starters back into the lineup.

http://www.mlive.com/sportsflash/index. ... ichigannba

I think that's the right thing to do. I'd expect them back in the line-up within the next couple games.

[Ballings7]

One thing I have to single out that I forgot to mention earlier, was Bibby making Maxiell turn the ball over on one of those late possessions - that was fun

I think he backed away some, but also stole the ball. Crafty play by Mike.

[SacKingZZZ]

-= original quote snipped =-

Yes, I said that in response to a few posters talking about Salmons being pissed and he must be pissed. I still don't know if he was, but if he was, it needs to stop. Settle things with Reggie and realize he's not going to have a role like tonight and at Toronto. Because Salmons being strange happened earlier this year too, and obviously that was settled.

I'd want that to stop, wouldn't you? It's up to Reggie and the team to fix this, ifsomething was going on again. Just like last time at Minnesota.

Go look back in the thread 1 or 2 pages before my post. You'll see where my post intention came from.



Never mentioned anything relating to the bench. I just talked about Salmons possibly being pissed. I personally never noticed anytning, and Salmons was never focused on a closer up camera view at all in the game. On the Detroit broadcast.

Let's put it this way. I would be more pissed about John NOT being pissed. This is a guy that has earned a starting spot in every sense of the word. Maybe even earned more than that. I hope he fights for that spot. That or Geoff Petrie does something about it. It does no good having a guy that can get you an easy 20 a game getting up 2 shots. What a complete waste! If he is going with the Artest and Bibby approach than do something to aid you further in that direction.

This is exactly the kind of stuff I was talking about having waaaay to many guys for too little spots. The fact remains, he isn't taking more shots simply because the shots aren't there! There is no minute crunching, substitution pattern, etc. that is going to solve this problem. Too much isn't always a good thing as we are seeing now and may see more of as time progresses. The last thing I'd want to be doing is pissing off the guy that gives us as good a chance as ever of a smooth and seamless transition from 1 starter to another if and when a deal is made.

If Artest isn't a long term fixture in the mind of Petrie, and again, there is too much noise to consider this anything less than a legit possibility, then why put John Salmons in this position at all? I can understand upping Artest's value and giving the Bibby/Artest combo one last chance so we'll see what happens. I'd hate to enter a summer of uncertainty as we always seem to do. Building up something just to watch it come out of the other end of summer with a crack in the foundation filled with chewing gum for a quick fix.

John isn't putting up 2 shots because he's playing crappy, he's putting up 2 shots because our "bench" is taking 40 shots out of the 70 available. And to their credit they are doing it well. But....that isn't the issue here. The issue is commitment and direction. I always hear about the players commiting to the organization, well, I think it's time the organization commits to some of it's players.

[Wolfay]

Artest is the better player, so he gets more minutes. If Salmons wants to bitch and moan that he isn't starting or playing enough, tough luck. He can still be productive from the bench or whatever. There's no law that you can't contribute if you get less than so many minutes.

I don't care if Artest gets traded later or not, you put your best players on the floor regardless. Besides, there's no guarantee Artest gets traded. If you ask me, I think he won't be; there's nothing to suggest that he will be except some bull rumors flying out of New York.

The issue is commitment and direction. I always hear about the players commiting to the organization, well, I think it's time the organization commits to some of it's players.

The players WORK for the organization, not the other way around. The only commitment the organization has to make is to write out that fat paycheck.

[Ballings7]

Well, I think Bibby is more likely to be dealt than Ron. Bibby's more valuable overall, has more and a better fitting group of destinations. Two of them have definitely been known to actually want him. Though it will probably be down to one soon with Miami looking to be a lottery team rather than a playoff ambition team.

I also don't see how John is going to have a role in the range of at Detroit and at Toronto. That's just not realistic.

If Artest isn't a long term fixture in the mind of Petrie, and again, there is too much noise to consider this anything less than a legit possibility

The noise isn't legitimate noise, though. It's not coming from the Kings or Ron or Petrie or the Maloofs. I haven't seen it much from the Bee people either. It's mainly or all coming from New York and Miami reporters. What has come from Ron is being initiated by the NY reporters, and is just stuff that's already been said similarily and known before. It's just various collective speculation, hype, re-hash over the last year or so from various reporters. Doing the silly part of their job for their required amount of material to sell the papers, and get hope and gossip going as much as possible. Which leads to future articles and the sale of papers.

I want to see substantial noise on this. I haven't ever seen it. Then I'll start buying into it as the more likely scenario. The type of noise which matters most (not this garbage started by reporters), will begin to come around in the summer if Ron's still here. Which is the probable occurance.

For a direct prediction? I don't think Ron will be traded at the deadline. Where's the favorment? Where's the respectable possibilities? Where's the significant and legitimate material on it from the media? For Ron to be traded? There isn't any of it anywhere.

Regardless of views from us and printed opinions and gossip, it's a legit possibility either way for Ron staying or going from this team after the season. The factors both ways can't be denied. It's not lop-sided. Things have to change for the possibilities to actually sway to one of the decisions.

But as things are, involving all the kinds of factors - MLE, sign and trade, trade, sign for a larger contract, opt in, opt out, playoff teams, border-line playoff teams, poor teams, and which of (limited amount) the teams are fitting for him. Ron staying still has an edge compared to him not.

[SacKingZZZ]

Well, I think Bibby is more likely to be dealt than Ron.

I also don't see how John is going to have a role in the range of at Detroit and at Toronto.

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The noise isn't legitimate noise, though. It's not coming from the Kings or Ron or Petrie or the Maloofs. I haven't seen it much from the Bee people either. It's mainly or all coming from New York and Miami reporters. What has come from Ron is being initiated by the NY reporters, and is just stuff that's already been said or similarily known before. It's just various collective speculation, hype, re-hash over the last year or so from various report.

I want to see substantial noise on this. I haven't ever seen it. The type of noise which matters most (not this garbage started by reporters), will begin to come around in the summer if Ron's still here. Which is the probable occurance.

For a direct prediction? I don't think Ron will be traded at the deadline. Where's the favorment? Where's the respectable possibilities? Where's the significant and legitimate material on it from the media? For Ron to be traded? There isn't any of it anywhere.

Regardless of views from us and printed opinions and gossip, it's a legit possibility either way for Ron staying or going from this team after the season. The factors both ways can't be denied. It's not lop-sided. Things have to change for the possibilities to actually sway to one of the decisions.

But as things are, involving all the kinds of factors - MLE, sign and trade, trade, sign for a larger contract, opt in, opt out, playoff teams, border-line playoff teams, poor teams, and which of (limited amount) the teams are fitting for him. Ron staying still has an edge compared to him not.

Does it ever? You might want to check the Bee, the trade rumors are aplenty and most if not all include Ron or Mike.

Really? By my calculations we still have to beat 29 other teams. Only 1 has to beat us, and not just in a monetary sense. If we aren't prepared to really fight for Ron, and there are a few examples of where Petrie is perfectly OK letting an asset go if the agreement is not up to his standards, then I'd rather just not let history repeat itself.