Sacramento officially put its 23rd season with the Kings to bed on Apr. 15 in a blowout loss to nemesis Los Angeles Lakers and their newly-crowned MVP. Since the team had been anxiously waiting for me to give it final grades, I figured it was time to fork them over.
Basket Making: A-
If there was one thing the Kings did well all season, it was fill the hoop. This team was absolutely loaded with shooters. Whether it was through Brad Miller or Beno Udrih at the top, Ron Artest down low or Kevin Martin anywhere on the floor, Sacramento was downright offensive this season. And that’s just four starters.
John Salmons and Francisco Garcia are one of the West’s top scoring bench tandems, and when he finally found decent minutes, the youngest King Spencer Hawes showed exactly what general manager Geoff Petrie thought he was getting—a Brad Miller look-alike. They all contributed to the NBA’s 8th-best scoring team (102.53 points per game) and its 10th-highest shooting percentage (.464).
Chemistry: B-
Hated in college laboratories, chemistry is the No. 1 factor driving teams to the postseason. Even with Artest’s sketchy disposition – the closest thing to leadership the Kings had this year – the Kings backed each other up on the court and appeared to gel in the locker room—all while getting to know a new coach. If Theus is able to turn in a consistent starting lineup next season, watch out.
Business Management: B+
Not a whole lot went down, but the Udrih signing was absolutely crucial. Sacramento’s acquisition of an injury-prone underachiever turned solid point guard opened the door for the Mike Bibby exit, the Sheldon Williams entrance and gave Petrie a little room to wrangle under the salary cap.
Basic Carpentry: A
Petrie can build a bench. His recent draft history goes Garcia in ’05, Quincy Douby in ’06 and Hawes in ’07, not to mention the steal that was Martin at 26th overall in ’04. Garcia and Salmons went from the bench to starters at different times last year, with Garcia seemingly more able to adapt to the role change. Salmons still has three years on his contract, and based on what we saw when Martin and Artest were wounded or suspended earlier in the year, he could be a starter.
It remains to be seen whether Douby’s career-high 32 points or mid-season addition Sheldon Williams’ double-double and three blocks in the season’s final contest were aberration or intrigue.
Physical Education: B
Fans should be more than happy with the individual improvements that developed this season. Martin broke through with his first superstar year (team-high 23.7 points per game, NBA-best 8.2 free throws made per game). Though he didn’t set new career highs in anything but free-throw percentage (.848 percent), Miller came in lighter and played five years younger. Udrih made more than a handful of executives re-evaluate their evaluations. Salmons shined as a starter, Garcia got clutch and Hawes moved on past questionable knees.
And honestly, not only did he shoulder the load most nights, but Artest behaved admirably under a rookie coach he might have declared war against in years prior.
History of the West, 2008: C-
Even with the strides these Kings made, there just wasn’t any room in the Western Conference. The conference was the best it’s been in decades, with the talent level probably at an all-time high. Both the coach and his players wondered publicly “what might have been” without the injuries this year, and maybe they’ll get to see next season. But frankly, they picked a rough year to rebuild.
The Importance of Sharing: F
This lesson shows up on that “What I learned in kindergarten” poster. And that’s my point—where were these guys when they were handing out the graham crackers? Udrih had his moments, Miller is to this day one of the NBA’s best passing giants and Artest was often sensational passing out of the double-team, but the dark side of a sharpshooter is that he too often wants to keep shooting.
Theus’ nightly lineup juggle due to injuries didn’t help, as the Kings only got 19.11 team assists per game for 29th overall. Starting point guard Udrih’s 4.3 per game were a team high. That’s unacceptable.
The Defense of Arco: D+
But to win games, you’ve got to hold the other team to at least one point less than what you came up with. And there’s the rub. Besides the incredible defensive skills of the beast known as Artest, the starters just couldn’t put forth what you might call “tenacious D.” Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think Martin even tries sometimes—or has energy left for that side of the court.
Reggie Theus was happy with what he called “lockdown” quarters every now and then, but besides an occasional swat by Mikki Moore or Miller, the Kings only got better on defense when Salmons and Garcia took the stage. The one thing keeping an “F” off the card here were some quick hands (7.93 steals per game, 7th overall). The Kings were among the NBA’s worst in rebounds and blocks (29th and 26th, respectively).
Faculty Evaluation: A+
I’m not going to go on about Theus any more than I already have this year. The grade speaks for itself. He went 38-44 in his first year, dealing with multiple injuries, Artest and the decision of progressing youngsters over wins. He handled it all with aplomb, and he looked good doing it.
Pepto 101: A+
You can say what you will about the Kings, but they were nothing if not exciting. I’m not going to recount the names of the NBA giants this team slayed – or the mice they allowed to roar – but you could count on the antacids getting passed around the ol’ living room when these guys were on the tube. And although Sacramento didn’t show up to Arco like it used to, the Kings sure did, going 26-15 at home. Buzzer-beaters over the Mavericks or inexplicably horrible efforts against the Heat, these Kings left fans – and probably their coach – with an ulcer or two this season.
Overall Grade: B
“How does six games under .500 earn a B,” you say? It does when the expert swamis predicted that 30 King wins might be a long shot. Add all the injuries, a rookie coach and a talent level that ranks at best average for the West, and you have Sacramento earning an above average grade. Now school’s out boys. Have a great summer. Hopefully you remember what you’ve learned.