<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">For whatever reasons, this isn't working. The Kings. The chemistry. The system. Peja. On yet another night - and the home opener, no less, before a stunned sellout crowd at Arco - the Kings were felled by a Prince, overwhelmed by the Detroit Pistons, left stumbling for answers and desperately seeking any semblance of cohesiveness. No, any semblance of passion. This was bad, awful, pathetic. This was the type of effort that often calls for someone to be fired, or, given the time of the season, for someone to be benched. More Corliss, less Peja. More of the physical, less of the finesse. What have the Kings to lose? Another one-sided outing against the next visitors to town? Another performance that sends fans scampering to the exits with almost eight minutes remaining? Why not experiment with experience, with the player who has won an NBA championship with these same Pistons, with the veteran forward who, throughout his career, has been a resilient voice of reason? "We are not playing with any pride," Williamson said matter-of-factly after Tuesday's loss, his words coming down like a hammer in the near-stillness of the locker room. "We don't have the type of energy defensively that wins games. We all have to be held accountable. I don't want to call anyone out, but when Detroit got physical, we just folded. We didn't answer back. I think we have to be brutally honest with each other, or this is just going to continue." The transition defense was nonexistent. The rebounding again was deficient. The ball movement was lacking, the execution inadequate, and that Brad Miller-Mike Bibby-Peja Stojakovic nucleus? It just isn't working, for whatever reasons, with Miller and Stojakovic, in particular, immersed in troubling early-season slumps. The frustration is clinging to both players - Miller allowing the referees to creep back into his consciousness and the increasingly confounded Stojakovic wearing his mood on his sleeve like one of Tayshaun Prince's endless arms. "Personally, I am very disappointed in my game," Stojakovic said after converting only 4 of 13 field goals, managing one rebound and zero assists, being outhustled to a series of loose balls and prolonging the mystery of why one of the game's most gifted outside shooters can't get more open looks. Is this a failure of an offense that calls for too few bruising, area screens? Is this the inability of the eighth-year small forward to cut sharply without the ball? Is this nothing more than his teammates' inability to properly utilize his skills? Or is this simply the time to table the discussion and give more minutes to Corliss, the league's premier sixth man during his 2001-02 season in Detroit? More Corliss. Please.</div> Source Let the Peja trade rumors begin.
Kings need to see more of Kenny Thomas IMO. He was great for them after the Webber trade and lifted the team to the playoffs. Time to trade Shareef or bring him off the bench.
The core of Bibby,Peja,Miller is just too unathletic. One of them has to go and Peja makes the most sense to trade.
I can't see Peja being moved, but something has to be done because that starting lineup is so similar, both in their lack of athleticism and their morose disposition. I don't know what the solution is because there isn't anything on the bench that is overly different or anyone demanding a stack of minutes.
Couldn't agree with you more. I've been a Kings fan for over 8 seasons, and this is the first time I honestly don't have confidence in them. I blame Petrie, as I think even if the team's personal chemistry was awesome, they still would be a sub-average team. It's a personnel issue. The Kings need to bring in a few athletic players. Right now, if you're a player in the NBA, on any team in the league but the Kings, who on the Kings' roster scares you? Not a single one of them. Throughout the years, the knock on the Kings has always been how they're too soft. Well this is the softest year yet. This offseason we lost Bobby and Maurice Evans, our two most athletic players. Also, Rick doesn't seem to like Skinner very much, who could really help I think. Something needs to change or the Kings will be lucky to end up with the 8th seed.
^ Id think you might be jumping the gun on that prediction. Teams play poorly sometimes. There are 77 games left for the Kings to play. At this point I say wait until Peja starts playing well and then trade him. Id like to see something like Peja for Posey and a pick.As i said earlier the core of Bibby,Peja,Miller is just too slow and unathletic. Peja makes the most sense to trade as hes pretty much one dimensional and often disappears when hes needed most.
Well last night the Kings used Corliss more, and he was terrible. He got ripped twice inside the paint and Adelman took him out and never brought him back in the game. GiantMidget, your absolutely right about the Kings being non-athletic. It was apparent in last night's game, but one player who impressed me was Kevin Martin. He was really getting after it on both ends of the court and has no qualms about taking it to the rack and getting hit. I think he could be the solution in the starting lineup to give them an athletic player to guard the SF/SG for the opposing team. I also think the Kings need to give Skinner more PT, and maybe use him as a spot starter. He's disruptive on defense and has the long arms to effect shots. This means Bonzi and Reef can come off the bench. So far the Kings bench has been the worst in the league. They were only scoring 17PPG heading into last night's game. Last night the bench only managed to score 12 points, while Denver's bench scored 38. Adelman said he's still trying to figure out his rotations. Right now the starting lineup isn't working, because there is too, much redundancy with the players. You have guys who want to have the ball at the same spot on the court, and the ball isn't being passed around like the Kings used to do. This should be their starting lineup for a few games. PG - Bibby SG - Martin SF - Stoyakovic PF - Skinner C - Miller 6th - Rahim 7th - Wells 8th - Thomas 9th - Hart The duo of Reef and Wells would kill second units in the league and balance out the scoring load better. Martin can take the tougher defensive match-up to protect Peja on defense. Skinner can do the little things on both ends like rebounding, shot blocking, setting picks, and creating second chance opportunities.
Id like to see the Kings either trade Peja for Al Harrington and a pick now, or after the season let Peja walk and purchase Harrington. The Kings have had a serious problem preventing teams from getting easy baskets as well as protecting the glass for the last 3 years now. How long will it take for Petrie to realize these problems MUST be addressed?
I'd like to see Peja be traded to denver for watson. He's not playing any there and it doesn't look like will anytime soon as they already have two pg's- they are basically non-existent at SG and could really use Peja's spot up shooting. As for the Kings, watson would be a capable backup off the bench coming in for bibby, taking the place of the great bobby jackson.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">I'd like to see Peja be traded to denver for watson. He's not playing any there and it doesn't look like will anytime soon as they already have two pg's- they are basically non-existent at SG and could really use Peja's spot up shooting. As for the Kings, watson would be a capable backup off the bench coming in for bibby, taking the place of the great bobby jackson.</div> Are u serious? Peja (soft and all that he is) is worth alot more than Watson. We have Hart, who is a good back-up and he can play D. I think we should trade Peja for a tough/defensive and athletic small forward. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Shapecity: It was apparent in last night's game, but one player who impressed me was Kevin Martin. He was really getting after it on both ends of the court and has no qualms about taking it to the rack and getting hit. I think he could be the solution in the starting lineup to give them an athletic player to guard the SF/SG for the opposing team. </div> Yeah I really agree, but I don't know if he's ready to start. He's only 22 and he worked very very hard on his game over the summer, his minutes have definetly gone up and he deserves it. He needs to get a lot of games under his belt before Adelman will consider starting him, because he needs alot of confidence. Sometimes he looks out of rhythm. But he's looking better and he is athletic and shows alot of promise, I'm hoping he can turn into a Rip type player.
ESPN Rumor Mill mentioned the Chicago Bulls as a possible destination for Peja. Deng would fill the void for an athletic forward.
Peja is playing his game the same way he did when Sacto was at their best. He’s a streaky player, always has been, always will be. I personally think giving Corliss more minutes and benching Peja in exchange would solve nothing. I think the guys around Peja need to step up. Especially Bibby. I think he forgets that Bobby J isn’t there to pick up for him anymore. Let Brad Miller bang away down low instead him being the one looking for Peja. Don’t get me wrong, I think his passing skills are great for a big guy and a fantastic asset to have but it should be Bibby doing this, not Miller. By the way, I’m new! Hope I didn’t turn anybody off!!!!
