Are we REALLY better off?

#91
It’s just too darn early to tell. But at this point the veteran leadership we had last year was light years ahead of this year. With Tolliver and Collison we played hard on D and shared the ball.
i liked collison over rondo but i didnt really notice collison as a stand out on defense. imo tolliver + temple was just pure class and culture. those are the kind of vets we need
 
#92
Well, this is the very first year of our true rebuild, so i think yes we are better off. Obviously time will tell but the fact of the matter is, when your "superstar" can't get you
in to the playoffs, it might be time to start over and build in another way. It's too early right now although i am very frustrated and tired of waiting.

We went from the Maloofs who actively sabotaged us for nearly a decade, right into an owner who wanted to win now and skirt around a real rebuilding process until
now. And yes Cousins looks awesome but it hasn't even been 10 games yet.
 

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
#93
Which is exactly the problem in a nutshell. Fans and front office went into every season with unrealistic expectations relative to the talent on the roster and then the front office would spend the rest of the season trying to patch holes which could not be patched. Not once in 7 years was there ever a dedicated effort to form and carry out a long-term plan that would progress us from lottery team to actual contender. That's inexcusable. I can understand the relief some feel that we finally have accepted our fate as bottom dweller and started pooling first round picks in an effort to develop and grow from within. The mentality alone is progress. But at the same time, what's hard for me to ignore is that this new mentality only happened because we dumped the best player this franchise has ever drafted (in the Sacramento era) for very little value. It's possible Harry Giles and Buddy Hield both grow into big enough stars that we forget about DeMarcus but the odds are against it. I also remember what this felt like the last time it happened (circa 2008) and the long trail of empty promises and wasted draft picks that followed. There's certainly an opportunity here to build something special but forgive me for viewing it all through a "fooled me once" sideways glance.
I still think Fox has to be included in this equation as well and I have more hope for Fox and Giles than I do for Buddy.

The point is though this franchise never, ever embraced a rebuild. A lot of that was the Maloofs fault, and then we had Cousins .. and yes, he was the best player we had ever drafted. And we bungled it up. But we got to the point there was no fixing it because our only choice was to sign him to a deal that completely hamstrings the organization. You really have to have your entire supporting cast in place before you sign that deal, and we did not.
 

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
#94
... And besides, I'm not going to just pick another team.
I've mostly chosen to stay out of these discussions (at least, in #KingsRap) since the All-Star Break, but I take issue with this comment: I find your phrasing to be problematic here, saying that you can't "just" switch teams, as though switching teams is something that people do idly. Switching teams is much rarer than self-proclaimed 'die-hard' fans would have you believe and, when it does happen, for most people, switching teams is not like switching a t-shirt, or changing into a different pair of shorts.

I don't believe that there is anything inherently noble about rooting for a team, so I don't believe that there is anything inherently ignoble about switching which team that one roots for, since it is unlikely to be a decision that anyone comes to lightly. The remaining 'die-hards' like to create a narrative in which fans switch teams over one issue or one player but, unless you're just jumping from winning team to winning team, there's usually a whole lot of stuff that has to happen before a fan gets to that Popeye-esque stage of "That's All I Can Stand, 'Cause I Can't Stands No More!" frustration to want to leave.
 

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
#95
I've mostly chosen to stay out of these discussions (at least, in #KingsRap) since the All-Star Break, but I take issue with this comment: I find your phrasing to be problematic here, saying that you can't "just" switch teams, as though switching teams is something that people do idly. Switching teams is much rarer than self-proclaimed 'die-hard' fans would have you believe and, when it does happen, for most people, switching teams is not like switching a t-shirt, or changing into a different pair of shorts.

I don't believe that there is anything inherently noble about rooting for a team, so I don't believe that there is anything inherently ignoble about switching which team that one roots for, since it is unlikely to be a decision that anyone comes to lightly. The remaining 'die-hards' like to create a narrative in which fans switch teams over one issue or one player but, unless you're just jumping from winning team to winning team, there's usually a whole lot of stuff that has to happen before a fan gets to that Popeye-esque stage of "That's All I Can Stand, 'Cause I Can't Stands No More!" frustration to want to leave.
Slim, this wasn't a shot at you or anyone else.

My personal love for the Kings is deeply tied to my personal connection to my hometown. I didn't choose to be a Kings fan.

Even though I spent ~8 years in New England, I chose to be a Pats, Sox, Bruins fan. I chose to be a Portland Timbers fan - because I wanted a sport to follow with my son and basketball was off limits to me. The Kings are just a part of who I am.

That's a personal thing and mine and mine alone.
 
#96
This team is hurting for offense.

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article182224301.html

Hield is just one slump/problem -Team Scoring, Assists, Rebounding (gulp). Top scorer Fox with 12.5ppg right now. My expectations may have been a little high. Once you lower your expectations, the disappointment melts away some and easier to follow... the losses are starting to accumulate which is momentum in the wrong direction though.
 

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
#97
Slim, this wasn't a shot at you or anyone else.

My personal love for the Kings is deeply tied to my personal connection to my hometown. I didn't choose to be a Kings fan...
Let's just say, for the sake of argument, that I accepted that at face value: how does it become a 'can or can't' thing? That's like saying that there's nothing your spouse could ever do that would ever make you decide to leave them. That you believe so strongly in the idea of marriage that you have greater allegiance to dogma than to your own happiness.
 

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
#98
Let's just say, for the sake of argument, that I accepted that at face value: how does it become a 'can or can't' thing? That's like saying that there's nothing your spouse could ever do that would ever make you decide to leave them. That you believe so strongly in the idea of marriage that you have greater allegiance to dogma than to your own happiness.
The thing is, you don't have to accept it. It's a deeply personal thing. The Kings are my connection to my hometown.

Incidentally the choice for me isn't between Kings and another team, it's between Kings and something else. Like Arizona Wildcats or hockey and football or videogames and movies.
 

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
#99
The thing is, you don't have to accept it. It's a deeply personal thing. The Kings are my connection to my hometown.

Incidentally the choice for me isn't between Kings and another team, it's between Kings and something else. Like Arizona Wildcats or hockey and football or videogames and movies.
In what way are any of those things connected to your hometown? Why Arizona, and not Sac. State?
 

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
In what way are any of those things connected to your hometown? Why Arizona, and not Sac. State?
My dad and grandma went to UA, I was to go there but had a last minute change of heart that sent me to Boston. And since my school wasn't much of a D1 sports school, I just kept a rooting interest in the Wildcats all this time.

But that's the point, they aren't connected. The Kings are my connection. As family moves on, etc. etc. the one thing that reminds me of home that I can enjoy at a bar or with friends, etc. is watching basketball and the Kings. Without any other big time sports team for decades, that's what I had. When my bestie at university came over to mooch off my cable and force me into watching Knicks basketball on the reg, it really cemented my fandom, and then 8 years later when we suddenly became a decent team, I was living in SoCal and it was a great way to represent my NorCal roots. As silly as it sounds I'm proud of my roots and for the last 25 years the Kings have been my way to express them.

I guess we all enjoy different things differently. I certainly don't like basketball solely because of the Kings, but it's a big part of my enjoyment and without them I think I'd be more likely to pursue other forms of recreation rather than become a Blazers fan. That said, I do feel pretty lucky that I get to go to a handful of Blazers games a year. Including the one against the Kings in 2 weeks.
 

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
... But that's the point, they aren't connected. The Kings are my connection. As family moves on, etc. etc. the one thing that reminds me of home that I can enjoy at a bar or with friends, etc. is watching basketball and the Kings. Without any other big time sports team for decades, that's what I had. When my bestie at university came over to mooch off my cable and force me into watching Knicks basketball on the reg, it really cemented my fandom, and then 8 years later when we suddenly became a decent team, I was living in SoCal and it was a great way to represent my NorCal roots. As silly as it sounds I'm proud of my roots and for the last 25 years the Kings have been my way to express them...
I don't think it's silly, I just can't relate to it: the concept of tying any part of my identity to the city where I was born is so alien to me, that I can't even process it. I can't even imagine somebody communicating that sentiment in words that would make sense to me; like, I understand all of those words individually, but put them in that particular sequence, and it's like it's not English any more.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
The thing is, you don't have to accept it. It's a deeply personal thing. The Kings are my connection to my hometown.

Incidentally the choice for me isn't between Kings and another team, it's between Kings and something else. Like Arizona Wildcats or hockey and football or videogames and movies.
I totally and completely understand.
 

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
I don't think it's silly, I just can't relate to it: the concept of tying any part of my identity to the city where I was born is so alien to me, that I can't even process it. I can't even imagine somebody communicating that sentiment in words that would make sense to me; like, I understand all of those words individually, but put them in that particular sequence, and it's like it's not English any more.
No, and I know that about you, and I enjoy reading about the sport through your lens because we come from such radically different universes. I'm glad you've stuck around.

I've stayed out of the posts regarding another prominent poster. The only thing I will say about it is we were one year apart and went to neighboring (literally across the street) high schools, and his departure caused more than a bit of self reflection, as even though we butted heads on occasion, he was the most relateable person to me here and *poof*. I don't get it and yet I totally get it.
 

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
See, I accept that some people are wired in such a way that they do, indeed, have a strong personal connection to their hometown. I don't 'get' it, but I accept it. The thing that I keep banging my head against the wall over is... why sports? Why does "the one thing that reminds me of home" have to be something that you can "enjoy at a bar"? I guess that contributes greatly to the disconnect for me: quiet as it's kept, I don't consider sports to be all that interesting, which is a big part of why #sticktosports guy drives me nuts.

What do you reckon that people from Sacramento who died before 1985 connected to? Eight is Enough? What are people like me, who were born where there aren't any pro sports in the whole state supposed to connect to?
 
See, I accept that some people are wired in such a way that they do, indeed, have a strong personal connection to their hometown. I don't 'get' it, but I accept it. The thing that I keep banging my head against the wall over is... why sports? Why does "the one thing that reminds me of home" have to be something that you can "enjoy at a bar"? I guess that contributes greatly to the disconnect for me: quiet as it's kept, I don't consider sports to be all that interesting, which is a big part of why #sticktosports guy drives me nuts.

What do you reckon that people from Sacramento who died before 1985 connected to? Eight is Enough? What are people like me, who were born where there aren't any pro sports in the whole state supposed to connect to?
I will try to answer this for you. I lived in SC for 10 years, and was there when the Kings became good. The truth is that outside of CA when you say you are from Sacramento, the response is: "Where is that?" You mention the Kings and the light bulb usually comes on.

There are many cities across this country that have different things that identify them to people, but Sacramento doesn't really have anything other than the Kings.
 

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
See, I accept that some people are wired in such a way that they do, indeed, have a strong personal connection to their hometown. I don't 'get' it, but I accept it. The thing that I keep banging my head against the wall over is... why sports? Why does "the one thing that reminds me of home" have to be something that you can "enjoy at a bar"? I guess that contributes greatly to the disconnect for me: quiet as it's kept, I don't consider sports to be all that interesting, which is a big part of why #sticktosports guy drives me nuts.

What do you reckon that people from Sacramento who died before 1985 connected to? Eight is Enough? What are people like me, who were born where there aren't any pro sports in the whole state supposed to connect to?
Telemachus has a big part of it. I reckon folks from before the 80s carried on and on about the Solons (old time baseball team) or talked about who was going to win the Pig Bowl (annual football game between the police and sheriff's departments). A number of states that don't have pro sports have huge college sports scenes.

I don't know why it is. I am also pretty heavy into music. Sacramento has a fair share of artists, I can't say I'm a huge fan of all of them, but at one point I was at least as high on Tesla as I was the Kings. They are pretty nichey in their own right. Every town has something that puts it on the map, even if it's just the world's biggest booger. So for that, I feel pretty fortunate to have the Kings.
 
On/Off numbers so far for those who have played at least 50 min this year:
upload_2017-11-3_13-59-33.png

On/Off numbers for all rookies who have played at least 50 min this year:
upload_2017-11-3_14-0-59.png

Just thought I'd share some of this data so we can see who within our team is performing better and how our rookies are looking compared to others in their draft class.
 
On/Off numbers so far for those who have played at least 50 min this year:
View attachment 6927

On/Off numbers for all rookies who have played at least 50 min this year:
View attachment 6928

Just thought I'd share some of this data so we can see who within our team is performing better and how our rookies are looking compared to others in their draft class.
Thanks!

If Fox can pull that off this early in the rebuild, I have no doubt he will be a good player. Skal has looked good and the stats back it up. Bog is good. Temple is good, but not sure if he will be around when we try to get deep into the playoffs. The Celtics game was nice progress imo.

So our nucleus, as it seems right now, is Skall, Fox, and Bog. Bog needs to be lights out from 3 for us to have a chance, and Fox needs to be at least 33%. We have one more shot to get a player from the draft.

So aside from the obvious, back to the thread topic. I give it a 25% chance that the above happens. With Cuz, we had a 35% chance. The point of this thread is to make sure everyone knows Vivek is bad. We'll never be able to say who is right and who is wrong, but we can all dislike Vivek and his pervbots hehe.

One other thing that bothers me: many supporters of the rebuild have asked, “what did you expect during a complete rebuild?” That’s like someone saying they don’t want to go on a rollercoaster with a friend because their hair will get messed up, then when it gets messed up and they complain about it, the friend says “what did you expect?” :rolleyes: Anyways, that's the last I'm going to talk about Cuz, I hope!
 

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
I will try to answer this for you. I lived in SC for 10 years, and was there when the Kings became good. The truth is that outside of CA when you say you are from Sacramento, the response is: "Where is that?" You mention the Kings and the light bulb usually comes on.

There are many cities across this country that have different things that identify them to people, but Sacramento doesn't really have anything other than the Kings.
Which begs the question, when people from outside of Sacramento say that there's nothing there/nothing to do there, why do Sacramentans get so defensive, if it's true?
 
Which begs the question, when people from outside of Sacramento say that there's nothing there/nothing to do there, why do Sacramentans get so defensive, if it's true?
Just because a city isn't "known" for anything, doesn't mean there is nothing to do there (or there is nothing good about it).

I think most from Sacramento are more likely to get upset when it is referred to as a cow town. Sacramento and surrounding area is roughly 2.5 million people, which is bigger than most outsiders probably think it is.
 

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
Which begs the question, when people from outside of Sacramento say that there's nothing there/nothing to do there, why do Sacramentans get so defensive, if it's true?
It's not really true. It's definitely not a major metropolitan city, and personally I prefer densely packed cities to sprawling ones, which is why I am where I am. But there's plenty to do in Sacramento, and it's also situated between a major metropolitan city and a major outdoor wonderland, so it's a great middle ground.

The reason people get upset or defensive is because it's a knee jerk thing to say at best, and a jerk-face thing to say at worst. If you live in town and want to complain about it, I suppose that's your right. If you are from LA and want to neg the city for not being Hollywood, that's just being a jerk.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
I will try to answer this for you. I lived in SC for 10 years, and was there when the Kings became good. The truth is that outside of CA when you say you are from Sacramento, the response is: "Where is that?" You mention the Kings and the light bulb usually comes on.

There are many cities across this country that have different things that identify them to people, but Sacramento doesn't really have anything other than the Kings.
What?!?! How could you forget this?

 
The goal should either be to make the playoffs or tank, always. Smh at people who are upset that we're not still a mediocre team. There was no forseeable path to consistent playoff appearances.
 
See, I accept that some people are wired in such a way that they do, indeed, have a strong personal connection to their hometown. I don't 'get' it, but I accept it. The thing that I keep banging my head against the wall over is... why sports? Why does "the one thing that reminds me of home" have to be something that you can "enjoy at a bar"? I guess that contributes greatly to the disconnect for me: quiet as it's kept, I don't consider sports to be all that interesting, which is a big part of why #sticktosports guy drives me nuts.

What do you reckon that people from Sacramento who died before 1985 connected to? Eight is Enough? What are people like me, who were born where there aren't any pro sports in the whole state supposed to connect to?
College sports:)
 
In terms of being competitive we are worse off. That might start to change later this year.
In terms of having an honest team with some emotional maturity that plays together, we are much better off.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
Slim, this wasn't a shot at you or anyone else.

My personal love for the Kings is deeply tied to my personal connection to my hometown. I didn't choose to be a Kings fan.

Even though I spent ~8 years in New England, I chose to be a Pats, Sox, Bruins fan. I chose to be a Portland Timbers fan - because I wanted a sport to follow with my son and basketball was off limits to me. The Kings are just a part of who I am.

That's a personal thing and mine and mine alone.
Times have changed! When I was a kid growing up in St. Louis, I was a St. Louis Cardinal fan, and a St. Louis Hawks fan. I rooted for them because they represented my neighborhood, my city, my state! It wasn't really a choice I had to make. It was made for me by birthright. Because I was a Cardinal fan, I automatically hated the Dodgers, the Giants, and every other national league team. Stan Musial and Bob Pettit were my hero's. Then my world came crashing down when my Hawks pulled up stakes and moved to Atlanta. My Cardinal football team moved to Arizona. Reality came home to roost. My first realization that while I was a loyal fan, my teams weren't loyal to me.

So when I moved to Sacramento, I became a Warrior fan. They were the closest team geographically, and I got rewarded with a championship, thanks to Rick Barry and company. When the Kings moved to Sacramento, I made a conscious decision to move my loyalty to the Kings. It was a difficult decision because I was totally into the Warriors at that time, but Sacramento was my new hometown, and I felt the team needed as much support as it could get. I've been a Kings fan ever since, despite the fact that I no longer live there. In today's world, it's easy to root for which ever team you want. You can watch them where ever you are on your smart phone, or with a satellite dish in the heart of Mexico. It makes switching teams easy by comparison to when I was a kid. You can sit in Berlin, and bring the Kings into your living room.

There is no right or wrong to this. What ever makes you happy should guide your decision. Trust me, there are times when I look up I 80 with a tad of regret. But it doesn't linger long. If the road was easy, it would be crowded. Nope, I'm a Kings fan till the end. I just hope the end isn't near. That's an either/or I don't want to entertain.