Finally a coach finds common ground with the team’s biggest star and franchise changer and starts winning games before ailments sideline his All-Star for 20 games then the losses pile up leading to the trainer’s sack. For the first time since 2008, the team situated on the West Coast wins more than 30 games yet the coach is sacked at the end of the season because he couldn’t connect with the team’s star.
Confused yet? How about the fact that coaches appointed prior to those of General Managers which never should happen but did happen and inevitably Pete D’Alessandro got sacked.
This is the Sacramento Kings or in the words of Forward Rudy Gay, “basketball hell”. The once strong franchise of the early 2000’s has descended into anonymity after missing out on the playoffs for a decade.
To be fair, the side has made headlines in those years but aside a few feel good stories, it has been nothing but a wandering club searching for a firm base to build on.
When the Kings pop up in main stream conversation, it’s bad; All-Star DeMarcus Cousins being a hot head and getting in trouble for it or when any one of the many scenarios mentioned above does happen.
Some semblance of stability seem to have been found with the appointment of former Memphis Grizzlies Coach Dave Joerger and in management’s plans for the future with the recent completion of the ultra high tech, green house friendly and modern Golden 1 Center.
Yet the Kings still can’t shake of the feeling you get when watching JaVale McGee’s “Shaqtin’ a Fool” catalogue; weird. Utterly weird, puzzling, enigmatic or any other adjective that can replace bemusement in a statement.
It all begins with the team’s five game trip to the Eastern Conference where it lost four straight games before winning the final game which was expected to be a pummeling. Sacramento lost to Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks before beating Toronto Raptors 96-91. In games against average and rebuilding teams Milwaukee and Magic respectively, the side lost badly (91-117 and 94-102) that forced Joerger to register his displeasure with his veteran team who he said made plays rookies would normally do.
However, facing high flying Toronto in Toronto after playing and losing barely 24 hours before, Sacramento beat DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and the rest of the Raptors sans Jonas Valanciunas who was out injured. Kings did get a lucky break with Valanciunas’ injury as his replacements Pascal Siakam, Lucas Noguiera and Jakob Poeltl were either too raw as rookies or just enough good enough to compete against Sacramento’s more experienced and battle-tested frontcourt that includes Gay, Omri Casspi, Cousins and Kosta Koufos. It also helped Rudy Gay was in super form as he top scored in the game with 23 points to beat his former side and make an instant impact upon his return from injury.
Despite all pointers indicating this was one of those games where everything went well for Sacramento but same didn’t happen for the other side, the Kings did put in a great effort to win and complete the trip on a high note. Prior to the game, DeRozan was on a 30 point scoring streak as the Los Angeles native and All-Star put his name firmly in the Most Valuable Player conversation early in the season. With a combination of strong play on defense and to a little extent, a bad shooting night from him (made seven of 20 field goal attempts), he registered 23 points at the Air Canada Center.
The side will play seven of its eight upcoming games at home in the eco friendly Golden 1 arena with a November 12 fixture against Portland Trailblazers at the Moda Center. But after opening the season with a loss and a win at home, what to expect from the side remains up in the air. For starters, the side welcomed Point Guard Darren Collison back into the fold after serving an eight game league suspension in the 102-94 win against New Orleans Pelicans. He did score nine points on his return but it was shocking those nine points were the only ones registered between he and starting Point Guard Ty Lawson in the entire game.
On November 11, Kings will welcome the equally unpredictable fellow West Coaster Los Angeles Lakers to its home arena but seeing the new look Lakers have won games they were expected not to (against Golden State Warriors) and lost to those they were fancied to win (against Dallas Mavericks who had won just a game prior to the meeting). Maybe a clash between both sides would neutralize either’s undulating form or have the opposite effect but nothing cant be certain and that is Sacramento Kings basketball.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
