Kings Too Comfortable To Win Title

[spursfan101]

http://www.broadbandsportsnetwork.com/news...r.asp?a=142&z=1

Sacramento -- Brad Miller and Bruce Bowen had a brief meeting at midcourt in the fourth quarter of the Kings’ 101-87 victory over the Duncan-less Spurs. Miller was quite happy with himself after hitting a jumper and made sure everyone knew it by letting out a celebratory yell. Bowen and Miller brushed shoulders, with Bowen telling Miller to “shut up.”

Good for Miller.

Good for the Kings.

But not really. Let’s not kid ourselves.

Earlier in the quarter, Mike Bibby showed off his little strut (or duck waddle is what it really looked like) after nailing a three-pointer to put the Kings up by five with more than 10 minutes remaining. You’d have thought Bibby hit the game-winner in a playoff game.

But such is the case with Sacramento. Their comfort level--especially at home--really seems to prevent them from being a true contender for the NBA Title.

For three quarters, the San Antonio Spurs hung tough with the West-leading Kings, answering every run the Kings threw at them. But a few lazy passes and some obvious non-calls led to a furious Kings run to blow the game wide open.

And everyone in Sacramento was happy.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said once: “it’s dangerous for a coach to get too impressed with his team--they get comfortable."

Rick Adelman might want to follow in Pop’s footsteps.

Case in point. After Malik Rose spun in the lane for a lay-in during the second quarter, Rose, clearly frustrated by some earlier non-calls, started running his mouth, either at Miller or the official. He was promptly T’d up, causing Popovich to lash out a few choice words at Rose. Malik was also benched, with the Spurs gaining momentum.

The Kings would answer with a 10-0 run.

Brad Miller was in a similar position in the fourth. After missing a point blank lay-up--Miller went for a steal on Tony Parker. He was called for a foul. The pick looked clean, but Miller’s reaction was sorely overblown, and he was also given a T. Adelman said nothing to Miller, but instead went after the official.

The Kings’ playoff history is littered with such instances. Just ask the Lakers.

While it’s true the Kings would continue to run and blow out the Spurs, that kind of attitude won’t get the Kings far in the playoffs.

Especially not when players like Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Garnett are waiting on the other side.

So maybe Adelman knew he could get away with it.

Or maybe he’s just too impressed with his team.

Whatever the case, the Kings seem too placated with themselves to contend for an NBA Championship.

Sure, they’re still fun to watch.

A Brad Miller yell here.

A Mike Bibby dance there.

Unfortunately for Sacramento, that’s the only celebrating they’ll be doing this year--after hitting a big shot…in a regular season game.
 

[Laker Fan]

If that were only true! I don't see that as a big problem for the Kings, I see defense as a big problem for the Kings, that and the jump shooting nature of their offense. Personally I think if they get ambushed in the playoffs, it will be by the 2 teams that can score with them and do an adequate job of slowing them down, LA and Minnesota.

[JoMal]

An interesting take, but not accurate. The big thing about how they handled the Spurs has nothing to do with reactions to T's or doing dances or mouthing off after hitting a shot. It has to do with attitude.

The Kings really did not express much of a 'tude in the past, and teams walked all over them, punishing them and expecting no response. What you are seeing here is a direct reaction to a physical team that came into Sacramento expecting to intimidate the Kings like in the past and the Kings rising up and slapping them down, then telling them they are doing it.

This writer clearly does not favor the Kings for any reason, but he should at least understand their history before making a fool out of himself by thinking he is wisely predicting that because Popovish chewed out his player for taunting is similar to Adelman chewing out a referee for a bad call, which his player expressed as well, means the Kings are placating themselves to regular season success.

Just dumb.    

[JoMal]

Whatever the case, the Kings seem too placated with themselves to contend for an NBA Championship

What he probably meant to say was too 'pleased' with themselves. You would think he would understand his own language before contributing to the ignorance of others on a mass scale.  

[Reality]

This writer clearly does not favor the Kings for any reason, but he should at least understand their history before making a fool out of himself by thinking he is wisely predicting that because Popovish chewed out his player for taunting is similar to Adelman chewing out a referee for a bad call, which his player expressed as well, means the Kings are placating themselves to regular season success.

Just dumb.

Not to mention that after Pop-a-brain yanked Malik the Kings went on a 10-0 run taking away all momentum that had been the Spurs.

Pops control freak ways could very well spell doom for Legit Title Repeat attempt.

And for X's and O's leaving Nestro on CWebb outside.  <_<  

[JoMal]

The writer might have focused on those coaching issues you mentioned instead of accusing the Kings of being 'too placated with themselves to contend for an NBA Championship', which I still am at a loss trying to figure out his meaning.