Just Wanted to Say

[Awoooga]

As a Knicks fan, and a fan of the game, I cannot help but be excited about your team. Evans was one of my favorite players last year and I was not at all surprised at what he did. Throw in Cousins and IMO you guys are already have the pieces to be a major contender for the next 10 years. I always like watching young NBA teams develop. I am keeping my eye on you guys. Just deal anyone else for a PG and your absolutely set!

[YC42Balla]

It's always encouraging to hear what others think of our team.
Thanks for the Insight. I, Like you, also love watching young team's develop (Blazers, Thunder, Grizzlies.. a few of my favorites).

I'm just happy to be a fan of such a young but exciting team with great pieces going forward.

[KiNgSbOi]

Def. good to hear another fans perspective of our young squad. Cousins just needs to turn into that beast we expect him to be and we should be set, of course I agree we do still need a legit PG but that can be added down the road when we start talking championships not just playoffs.

[KF10]

Thanks for the kind words.

It's always nice to hear other teams fans opinions about the Kings. There was several non-Kings fans (like yourself) were praising the Kings all summer long too.

[tsherkin]

DeMarcus Cousins has a chance to live up to the potential that Derrick Coleman wasted.

And Derrick Coleman was a 20/10/3 player for 3 straight seasons at one point in his career, and didn't have Cousins' power.

DeMarcus has like 23/11 kind of potential, he's a really compelling prospect, I hope he keeps his focus and really busts on his competition.

[OGSactownballer]

Crossing my fingers and stroking my lucky rabbit's foot!

Thanks fellows!

[Dr Positivity]

I'll also chime in as an outside fan and say I'm very envious of the Kings core. I think Tyreke and Cousins are going to be a Payton and Kemp like "era" for you guys. Style of play the pairs are different, but I think they'll similarly be one of the most entertaining and popular pairs in the league and grouped together all the time, and they'll end up with 55-60 W seasons for the next decade until Cousins turns into late career Kemp, haha

More than that, I love the Kings organization and Petrie's decision making - and the overall culture. Very reminiscent of Portland after Roy's rookie year where they just had the management to create a perenially great team, unlike some other franchises (Minny, Memphis, etc.)

If I could switch my team's roster with anyone, there's not many I'd take over Sacramento. Even though OKC would be the smarter choice, I think watching Tyreke and Cousins is going to be so fun as hell that it'd be a hard decision

[tsherkin]

I should also chime in and add that I hope Jason Thompson's brain turns on, because he's got some pretty wicked talent himself. I still remember in his rookie year, I think it was David Thorpe, commenting that there were stretches were Jason would score in so many different ways, you couldn't guess what he might do next. PnR, PnP, offensive board, cutting off-ball, etc, etc. He just looked so smooth doing so many things.

Hope he puts it together. Not that, you know, 13/9 is BAD per se (apart from his efficiency), but he's got big potential.

[KF10]

I should also chime in and add that I hope Jason Thompson's brain turns on, because he's got some pretty wicked talent himself. I still remember in his rookie year, I think it was David Thorpe, commenting that there were stretches were Jason would score in so many different ways, you couldn't guess what he might do next. PnR, PnP, offensive board, cutting off-ball, etc, etc. He just looked so smooth doing so many things.

Hope he puts it together. Not that, you know, 13/9 is BAD per se (apart from his efficiency), but he's got big potential.

Here is a nice, interesting snippet about Thompson during his rookie year:

Thompson, the forward out of Rider who was picked twelfth overall, runs the floor so well that an unknown member of the Utah coaching staff told the Kings he hadn't seen a big man go end-to-end like that since the Mailman himself. And Thompson does more than just get to his spots, too. He finishes.

Great hands, good hoops IQ in terms of finding his spot and going to work, obvious offensive skill and more than enough athleticism to put an exciting exclamation point on whatever move he chose from the arsenal. He did just that in the Kings' second game, when his three-point play (a finesse floater from 10 feet or so followed by a clutch free throw) in overtime gave the Kings a win over Portland. I've yet to key on what he's doing on the defensive end, so more on that later. Overall, though, the consensus that he's NBA ready is being confirmed in the minds of the Kings coaching staff.

The underlined information is the most interesting part to me. That is high praise, to be compared to Malone, it's awesome. Especially in that facet of the game. Most people don't know how quick a guy like Thompson really is. During his rookie season, there were stretches of the game that allowed Thompson bring the ball up court. The Kings were comfortable to have Thompson handling the ball to some extent. Probably right now, Thompson isn't as quick as before in his rookie season due to bulking up in the last two years but nonetheless he moves surprisingly well for a big man.

I think Thompson gets overlooked by many people. Hopefully this season, Thompson can live up to his potential and his abilities.

I believe he can live up to his capabilities once he stop committing too many fouls! He tends to be overaggressive on defense. He also tends to whine about calls that goes against him. I think that was one of his major weak points about his game. He gets too wrapped up on fouls that can affect his own game in general. Also consistency is another weak point too last year. Last season, for the first thirty-something games, he was fantastic. He averaged roughly 16/9 through that span. He was the Kings' internal motor and a significant contributor. But for some reason, he hit a wall. Inconsistency, inconsistency and inconsistency. Thompson fell down. HARD. Things wasn't easy anymore, shots were not falling, committing too many fouls, etc etc. This continued until the last several games of the season. Thompson looked like he rebounded from his slump. And finished the season on a positive note.

Other than Evans and Cousins, I'm looking forward to see Thompson the most this season. Is he going to take the leap forward? Or will he stumble along the way? I don't know. Lets see what happens.

[tsherkin]

If Thompson takes a step forward (doesn't have to be a big one, either), Reke improves his shot and Cousins comes up playing well (which he seems likely to do), well... I've already said elsewhere what I think of the Kings, but if they put those three guys out there on a nightly basis playing at a high level, they're not going to be easy to ignore.

[tsherkin]

Also, because I'm a big ol' Cousins fanboi, here is an interesting Sacbee article you've all probably read already.

[pillwenney]

Yeah, the thing with Jason is, I think he probably has some kind of ADD. He wants so badly to do the right thing and to get better. He wears that on his sleeve. But in the heat of the game sometimes, he just doesn't quite use his head enough. He really can do a little bit of everything offensively though.

[SacTown Kings]

Thompson is a stud or going to be one. I don't know what so many Kings fans are thinking. I read all the time on the trade board that Thompson is the odd man out, that they would rather keep Landry over Thompson, that Thompson's potential is 6th man type player. I see waaaay more in Thompson than I do Landry. And 6th man, sheeesh gtfo with that. I see Thompson as our future third option and third best player.

[tsherkin]

Yeah, the thing with Jason is, I think he probably has some kind of ADD. He wants so badly to do the right thing and to get better. He wears that on his sleeve. But in the heat of the game sometimes, he just doesn't quite use his head enough. He really can do a little bit of everything offensively though.

Chris Kaman got drugged up to get over that. Worked pretty well. Seems to be doing alright for me, too.

[pillwenney]

Yeah, the thing with Jason is, I think he probably has some kind of ADD. He wants so badly to do the right thing and to get better. He wears that on his sleeve. But in the heat of the game sometimes, he just doesn't quite use his head enough. He really can do a little bit of everything offensively though.

Chris Kaman got drugged up to get over that. Worked pretty well. Seems to be doing alright for me, too.

I definitely could have guessed that.

[KiNgSbOi]

I really do hope JT shows that he has improved this year and most importantly, he can become a consistent night in and night out threat for us whether it's starting or off the bench. His production can do wonders for this team.

[tsherkin]

What, you caught on to my not-so-cunningly-hidden ADD?

[pillwenney]

What, you caught on to my not-so-cunningly-hidden ADD?

I caught on to you taking some kind of medication for it because I can relate. We both take medication for it and we both are well known for writing posts that are roughly the length of a doctor's thesis. Although I've calmed down a lot on that since my day's as a young whippersnapper...and more importantly, my day's taking Adderall instead of Concerta.

[Wolfay]

I have ADD! I've been taking Adderall and Dexedrine for years, and it's definitely helped.

[RoyalCourtJestr]

I have a slight case of ADD, but I've never taken any medication, nor do I really have any desire for it.