Welcome to SEGABABA night for the Beam Team. Mark Jones noted early in the first quarter that the Kings arrived to their team hotel in Brooklyn around 3:15 AM, hours after beating the Bulls in Chicago on Wednesday night, and hours before tipoff vs. the Nets on Thursday night. These new-look Nets are playing some pretty good basketball, too.
Brooklyn entered the arena tonight with a 5-2 record over their last 7 games, and they’re in the middle of a tight Eastern Conference play-in race. The Nets have a lot to play for, at home, with the Kings running on tired legs. Another good test for the 2nd best team in the Western Conference. Let’s talk about it.
Domantas Sabonis got off to a dominating start vs. Nic Claxton and Nets frontcourt. I like Claxton a lot, but Sabonis had a real strength advantage here all night. More on that later.
Outside of Sabonis’ strong play, though, the Kings’ offense was uncharacteristically sluggish out of the gate, leading to an uneventful 24-24 score after the first quarter.
The biggest moment in the first quarter was an unfortunate one for the Kings. Kevin Huerter injured his right leg on a cut to the basket, and was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game.
Kevin Huerter is being checked out in the locker room after appearing to injure his lower leg on this play pic.twitter.com/y6uGoSo3D5
— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) March 16, 2023
Adrian Wojnarowski got the scoop shortly after, reporting that early indications are Huerter injured his right hamstring, and he’ll undergo an MRI on Friday. Fox40’s Sean Cunningham followed up with a report stating a mild hamstring strain is the early diagnoses, but there is optimism and relief that the injury wasn’t worse. Stay tuned.
Sacramento’s lethargic offense woke up with an incredible run to end the first half. The game was tied at 41 with 3:36 remaining in the 2nd quarter before the Kings ran up a 13-0 run to give them a 54-41 halftime lead. What felt like a meh start for this squad turned into a strong lead for the Kings in a matter of minutes. That’s what having the best offense in the NBA can do for you.
The 2nd half featured the Nets doing their best to carve into Sacramento’s 13-point lead to varying degrees of success. The Nets got close on several occasions only for the Kings to steal momentum back. I’ve got to give props to Kessler Edwards here. He hit two big threes in the 3rd quarter against his former team when the Kings really needed to add some separation.
Edwards’ strong play didn’t stop there. The Nets continued to chip away at the Kings lead deep into the 4th quarter with Sacramento looking like they were finally running out of gas.
Mike Brown rewarded Kessler’s strong play in the 3rd quarter with crunch time minutes over Keegan Murray, and it really paid off. With 3 minutes left and the Kings up 5, Edwards made an excellent pass to Malik Monk in the corner for three, and that was probably the biggest bucket of the night. Monk’s shot gave the Kings enough separation with the clock on their side, and the Nets ran out of time to put together a real comeback.
Kings win 101-96.
Sacramento got some solid contributions from their role players tonight, but this was the Domantas Sabonis show. Domas finished with 24 points, 21 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 5 assists on 8-14 shooting from the field. The Nets, like many other teams before them, had no answer for his size, strength, and skill.
The Kings improved to a Western-Conference-best 10-2 since the All-Star break. Unreal. Light The Beam.
Next up: Kings vs. Wizards in Washington, D.C. on Saturday night.
It’s been 42×2 years!
But now…
I mean, is there a better way to say it than that?
…MURRAY!
It’s been (half of) 84 wins…
We Kings fans don’t need instant gratification. We like patience so we can truly savor the moment.
Now go out and win the whole darn thing already, FFS.
FOR FOX’s SAKE?
Fresno’s
So, this hits different for me. I became a Sacramento Kings fan BECAUSE of Walt Williams.
I grew up in Baltimore, Bullets moved to DC, it was all about the Terps at that point. Walt Williams saved Maryland in the post Len Bias era. When The Wizard got drafted to Sacramento, I became the biggest Kings fan. To see this post from Kosta signifying the first winning season in forever, it just makes an amazing season even more special for me.
I love this team, I love this post-website-that-shan’t-be-named-website community that has risen from the ashes, I love it all.
From a diehard fan since 1992, I just feel grateful for this season & this team. It’s been a long, long road. I hope everyone is enjoying it as much as I am.
A true die hard – you stuck around through the good and the bad, including the the 16-year malaise!
Love it. Thanks for sharing this!
I hope lots of older Kings players can be celebrated. Lots of bad seasons and rough times, but now everything is fun and happy. What better time to celebrate our history?
I lived in Little Italy from 1992-1994. I loved living in Baltimore, it was much safer than where I grew up.
Walt freaking Williams
Holy carp! A winning record!
I effing love this team! Mike Brown for President!!
With the Bucks loss tonight to the Pacers (<3 Hali), they are now 9-3 since the All-Star Break.
With the Kings’ win tonight, they now have THE BEST RECORD POST ASB AT 10-2. WE ARE THE BEST TEAM POST ASB. TAKE THAT FOR DATA.
I posted that I thought they would 16-9 after the break…on pace to beat that mark.
I thought they would go 16-9, too. When Kenny Caraway asked what he thought the Kings record would be on Twitter, I told him I predicted 16-9 initially but after the Phx W I upped that to 18-9. I stand by that, actually. I think the Kings finish at 50 or so wins and the 2nd seed. Its an unusual year record wise with so much parity and injuries and that allows for a lower than we’re accustomed to record for a 2 seed.
You can’t just add two more games for the Kings to win.
Clearly, you are a cap prodigy, but game schedules are your blind spot.
You’re right. I should have predicted 51 wins as the franchise has never done that. Clearly I was being shortsighted. Thank you, yet again, for showing me the error of my ways Sims.
he is counting pre-season or a special post season bonus
Yet my guess is that Brown’s message to the team continues to be…
We still have so much dancing to accomplish. Where’s the dance thread?
No Sleep Till Dance Thread
Come on, BEAMIE BOYS
Guaranteed winning season!
Guaranteed winning home record!
Guaranteed winning road record!
The fact that these guys came in on a second night of a back to back on the road (the broadcast said they got into Brooklyn at 3:30 in the morning) and played so well is beyond impressive. I fully expected them to be tired and that we might lose the game, but they proved me wrong!
Yeah, but
Yeah, box score suggests he hurtered us tonight.
Hopefully this doesn’t hamstring our chances in the playoffs
(ducks, runs for life, gets a Face-off surgery, changes legal name)
All good as long as your credit card number doesn’t change.
I thought for a moment you wrote
“…doesn’t charge”
No, that would be really bad.
Oh dang, I should have read the review first. Didn’t realize he got injured. Thank goodness early indications suggest it’s minor.
Oh yeah–my gif was supposed to be like I fainted because of Kevin’s injury.
Are you trying to tell us that all this time you’re really Catherine O’Hara? Next up you’re going to inform us your doggie photos are really fake.
To which I’d have to boo you on that one….FWIW.
Well, Teri Hatcher isn’t wrong in that regard.
Not anymore they aren’t. You seen her lately?
I will never see Teri Hatcher as she is…..I will always see her as she was. In fact……I thought the woman sitting on the Verizon signs in all those ads WAS Teri Hatcher.
Ugly win, but a win. Take em anyway they can get em right now. Light that beam!!!
A +0.500 record both on the road and overall!
They are also 6-0 on the road and 3-2 at home in this stretch. This team just doesn’t make sense. They win games on tough SEGABABAs on the road at a rest disadvantage (@Toronto 12/14, @LA Clippers 2/24, @Brooklyn 3/16). I’ve watched alot of Kings basketball and games where the Kings looked like they were running in mud. Like the 01-02 team. (That was a brutal 6 team in 8 day trip, to be fair, that went from Seattle to Sac to Minneapolis, East Rutherford NJ, Boston and Washington DC. The Kings complained, rightfully so I’m sure, that they should never do those type of road trips ever again. I can’t remember another one like that, ever, either. ) This group just keeps chugging along, though. I don’t get this team, and what’s more I don’t want to. It’s just too much fun being mystified.
Light. The. Fucking. Beam.
I feel you Pook!
Please don’t touch me. My nipples are very sensitive.
That doesn’t align with our prior agreement. I call BS!
And there we go……I just threw up in my mouth a little
4-2. Forgot about the W against Portland to open the post ASB festivities. 😂😂😂😂
One word…Sabonis. He is a beast, and a borderline great basketball player. He is deserving of MVP considerations. He is the primary reason for this teams success.
I. CANNOT. BELIEVE. THIS. IS. REAL.
But it is. I was ready for what easily could have been a schedule loss. Guess what? NOPE.
This team is 100% legit and I’m overwhelmed with emotion to be here with our guys. Holy shit, people. These Kings are making history… and they have me truly believing that something special is coming. Damn. What a delicious time to be a fan of your Sacramento Kings. Right?!
LIGHT THE BEAM
All this winning is changing the way I look at everything. I might be revealing a lifelong issue but right now the way I look at reality has changed. It is very cool…….but also a little weird.
Wow… just wow.
Hey, that’s my line!!!
But yeah, wow.
That’s Jason Thompson’s line.
Cold world…
I’ve been a Kings fan for 25 years in a small country, and have never met another Kings fan. What they’ve achieved this season I never would have believed could come together so quickly.
The goodness of the front office, coaches and players is truly uplifting.
This is really good! You have many virtual fellow Kings fans here.
I may have asked before (and forgotten) but which small country are you from?
New Zealand. It’s good! But there’s nobody here. Just a bunch of cattle.
Oh dangit, you literally posted this as I was claiming you were from the Netherlands.
A bunch of cattle means lots of cow bells. You fit right in!
Are you Pro-Delly? Or Anti-Delly?
Maybe I’ll put you down for Anti-Delly, eh? Eh?
I’m guessing the Netherlands!
Stay off my turf!
You about to find a BUNCH.
Back to back road games….back to back wins. I still have a hard time processing how well this team has played all year. But I’ll take it.
OT: 35 extra minutes to grab a Beam Team jersey! Ends at 9pm PDT!
https://twitter.com/thekingsherald/status/1636563869014593536
I bought my son one. Looking forward to seeing him wear it with pride! Go Kings!!!
shouldn’t your head be buried in work as it’s your busy season… of course all the cash crops in Humboldt probably make your job a little crazier…. Now that Kings are relevant you will have to take more breaks to watch the kings vs working 24/7 from February-May!
Well if he’s as food as a CPA as I think he might be then for sure….without a doubt……he’s figured out a way to deduct his son’s LTB jersey as a business expense.
I bought one!
I know I’m going to look ridiculous. But at least I’ll be on the cool side of history.
I beamed.
And then my wife wanted to beam too. We will sort out who will wear 5 and who will wear 10 on game days I guess.
Starting to get used to it! #LightTheBeam
Kings have better winning percentage on the road than at home. I said coming out of the ASB that I was hoping for a 14-11 finish. Now that would be a disappointment. 8-5 to finish with 50 wins is very much in reach. But just win the next one first.
Heck, I was hoping for at least a .500 or slightly better record post ASB, given how tough the schedule was. They are blowing WAY past even my most optimistic views.
That’s the beam team way.
(if someone could add the purple besm there…)
The heart is mightier than the thumb.
The way he’s playing, I hope he doesn’t take it off until we win the NBA title. Like Monk with the band-aid.
Agreed.
the dude has been cheesy hot!
Lithuanian Lasagna should be on the menu at G1C during the playoffs.
And Red Velvet cupcakes.
Monkfish Po’Boys!
Buffet Trey?
Yeah, how about we give him a fresh wrap each game?!
I want to give this team two thumbs-up but remembered thumbs mean nothing to them
Quoting HB after the game.
“I think being here for over four years now, and seeing the bottom — the very bottom — and to see the frustration of fans and the people in the organization, I think it’s nice to be on the other side it… a lot of people, they don’t get a chance to stay in an organization long enough to see the good times and the bad, they just see the bad side. So I consider myself fortunate to be able to be part of this moment.”
And there goes my tears as I’ve read that. Man I love HB, I love this team!
Proud to say that in a nation full of bandwagon L*kers and Warriors fans, we exist! #LightTheBeam
I wish Barnes and his family would move in next-door to me.
No idea why he’d want to slum it, but I’ll keep wishing.
Yeah he’s the definition of “class act”.
With Barnes, it’s not an act.
With all of you on that. I’ve said it hear and other sites as well but to repeat myself……I would not be surprised at all to see HB as a US Senator or in a position of equal importance and responsibility. He is an extremely bright man….a thinker…an excellent communicator and with a high level of EQ.
Not to mention IQ…which means he’s well balanced (EQ) and smart (IQ).
Extend that man.
I’m guessing that they will try to get an extension for Sabonis this off season too, since his contract only goes until next season.
EXTEND THE BEAM!
Now I am certain that my “Highway to Hell” hoodie won’t need any additions. 😍
I would like to say for the record: oh fuck yeah!
This team is going places
Oh what the hell….
Current outlook.
Who do y’all want to face in the first round?
Second round?
Third round?
Finals?
Beam City vs Cream City?
or
Beam Town vs Bean Town?
I’m thinking:
1st round: Beat Dallas and exorcise the Luka demons.
2nd round: Beat Golden State and let Coach Brown show Kerr who’s boss. Maybe Vivek can gloat a little and do a Triple-H celebration in front of Lacob / Guber.
3rd round: Beat the L*kers, to exorcise the ghosts of Robert Horry’s 3-pointer and stick it to the referees.
Finals:
So is the magic number for us to clinch a playoff birth 48 wins? (since Golden State has 34 losses and can win no more than 48?) Although I’m not sure which of us or them would hold a tie breaker.
We’re 1-2 against the Warriors, same with Phoenix. We’ll probably get the tiebreaker because the Kings are 1st in the division so it’s imperative for us to win those 2 games against them.
I’ve never wanted anything to happen more than I do what you just threw out there. My pants would be cream city
I’d like to see Dallas in the first round because that team can’t defend anybody and sending Luka and Kyrie packing would be fun. Then I’d want the Grizzlies because they’re sort of a mess and Adams was actually their biggest advantage against us and he’s done. The in the WC finals I’ll go with Denver because they just don’t scare me. Jokic is amazing but with Sabonis doing close to the same thing, I think we could neutralize him a bit. If we actually made it to the finals, I think we’d get killed by any of the East top-3 but this team has surprised me all year so who knows!
If we got to the Western Conference Finals, I’d like to see Adelman and the 2002 Kings team in attendance.
I think that would be a healing experience. (if we won, of course)
Keep Dick Bevetta the heck away from there
persona non grata
“NO DICKS”
Maybe while Vlade is there, we can give him a job that he’s completely unqualified to do. Peja too! What’s the worst that could happen?
As crazy as that prediction may sound, part of me would not even be surprised if it actually DID happen. This season has blown past even my most optimistic expectations by MILES.
10-2 since the ASB. Monte kept the chemistry intact by not trading anyone while the rest of the West “loaded up”. How’s that working out for Phx and Dallas? Just finished the 8 episodes of the Run tonight after the win. I like these guys even more after that.
Claxton is a terrific defender, but he must have some Lithuanian-themed nightmares by now. Sabonis was an absolute force in this game, wow.
Talking about a force: Kessler Edwards. In the games where’s played extended minutes, he has shown to be good defensively, able to (at times) hit wide-open shots, and be a decent rebounder. These are all things I expected when the Kings signed him.
What I didn’t expect was his basketball IQ. Both defensively and offensively he simply knows where to be. I highlighted the defensive play against Phoenix the other day, where he guarded four different people in one possession. Last night, he showed some flashes on offense.
Maybe he was scared to go up, but I like to think it was a great read by a young player. Good stuff by Edwards.
That’s the subtleties that I had never understood. Thanks for pointing it out. I am learning. Basketball is complex and not easily understood. THANKS!
Very nice breakdown!
Kessler understands his role and he plays it well. Small samples of course but young and has potential and plays the right way, great addition to the team for basically nothing
For as much as the Kings are known as a “fast paced run and gun offense that gets offense on the fast break” team, my eyes tell me that they are a highly efficient half-court offense. That is why they have sustained this record despite their low rated defense.
Is there a site that shows half-court efficiency ratings?
I believe that I read that they are top-five, but I can’t recall where.
Cleaning the Glass and Dunk and Three’s are two. NBA.com has a good site as well with more free data but you’ll simply have to learn how to use it. CTG and D&3’s are tremendous sites but they do have paywalls.
But in case you’re wondering, your eyes are not deceiving you. The Kings are the #1 offense in the halfcourt, not open court. Have been for awhile. Sacramento has 15.5 Fast Break points every game. That means they are scoring 105.4 points in the halfcourt and 120.9 total.
But, here’s probably the better way to look at it. They’ve had 7040 possessions and scored 8342 total points. That amounts to a 1.184 points per possession (a very high overall team number).
Just as an aside, here’s a few other teams (Indiana, Boston, Denver, Atlanta, Oklahoma City, and New Orleans).
Indiana scores 18.7 points on fastbreak totals every game out of their 115.9 total overall points per game. That comes out to 97.2 points per game in the halfcourt. Their overall PPP is 1.136 good for 19th in the NBA.
Boston scores 14 fastbreak points out of their 117.5 total coming out to 103.5 points in the halfcourt. Their overall PPP is 1.165 good for 3rd in the NBA.
Denver scores 16.6 fastbreak points out of their 116.9 total coming out to 100.3 points in the halfcourt. Their overall PPP is 1.175 good for 2nd in the NBA.
Noticing a trend yet? Gooodddddd. 🙂
Atlanta scored 13 fastbreak points out of their 117.2 total coming out to 104.2 points in the halfcourt. Their overall PPP is 1.147 good for 10th in the NBA.
Oklahoma City scores 14.4 fastbreak points out of their 117.8 total coming out to 103.4 points in the halfcourt. Their overall PPP is 1.141 good for 14th in the NBA.
New Orleans scores 14.4 fastbreak points out of their 113.9 total coming out to 99.5 points per game in the halfcourt. Their overall PPP is 1.131 good for 21st in the NBA.
In case you haven’t noticed by now, instead of listing this as ORtg or DRtg, I simply listed it as Points Per Possession (PPP). All ORtg or DRtg is points per 100 possessions. Period.
How you define possessions is important, of course, When you get 3 or 4 offensive rebounds on 1 side of the floor, that is 3 or 4 possessions. But from a pace standpoint, you are discussing only 1 trip down the floor. Not multiple scoring opportunities. It’s an issue with USG% as well. Most of the time most people, myself included, use the most commonly cited definition of USG% which is how many players use the ball in terms of finishing possessions. But there’s also ball handling USG%, among others, and a few other lesser known kinds that matter less here to the average fan at least. (Keeping it simple at this stage is important IMO.)
Anyhoo, if one were to answer your question without having the exact formula, here’s how I’d go about it. (I’m willing to be told differently.) Take the amount of FB points a team has scored, say Sacramento, which in this case is 15.5 FB points and multiply that by the points per possession which is 1.185 and you get 18.37 points per 100 possessions scored in the FB. In the halfcourt, that number is 105.4 multiplied by 1.185 which is 124.89 points scored per 100 possesssions (or 124.9 Halfcourt ORtg).
Just using Denver as another example, they score 16.6 FB points and multiply that by 1.175 points per possession and you get 19.51 FB points per 100 possessions. (They rate higher than Sacramento in that regard.) In the halfcourt, you have 100.3 points scored mulitiplied by 1.175 points per possession which rates to 117.85 points per 100 possessions in the halfcourt (or 117.9 Halfcourt ORtg).
Boston being the last example scores 14 FB points and multiplying that by their 1.165 PPP you get 16.31 points per 100 possessions in the FB. Their halfcourt numbers are 103.5 points and 1.165 PPP gets you a number of 120.58 points per 100 possessions in the halfcourt (120.6 halfcourt ORtg).
I could keep going but you get the idea. There’s some adjustments to be made with league wide pace and other things that you get on other sites with their specific formulas, but this is a quick and dirty way (but certainly not the definitive answer) to think about it. Hope this helps a little bit.
And yes, what the Kings are doing in the halfcourt is historically brilliant. That’s the funny dirty little secret about this team. They aren’t really a fastbreak team as their reputation suggests. But they are a fast team in the halfcourt and that’s what throws everyone off. They actually spend a lot more time on defense in the halfcourt than their opponents do. That’s one reason why their defense doesn’t hurt them.
I was told there would be no math.
Basic math is still allowed. 🙂
Great stuff KG21
I remember looking at the post- All Star schedule and thinking “Man this is going to be tough”. This team has looked solid.
16 games in 31 day March. And IIRC, 4th SOS (strength of schedule) – to be concise; the task appeared daunting. I was starting to get a “well, it was fun while it lasted, maybe they can keep their head above water enough to stay at least 6th” vibe).
Eff all that. The hardest part of the schedule is now; the most games against the toughest teams, playing for something (post season positioning and tuning up for the playoffs). The Kings thus far, in what many consider the real regular season (the post ASG remaining schedule) are playing .833 ball. Still lots of games left, but totally wonderfully, /smh amazeballs.
Abso-effin’-lutely mind blowing
Went to the NCAAs last night and was wearing my Kings jacket. I got a ton of dap for it. It took less than one full season of Brown / Fox / Sabonis for my Kings gear to go from sad / ironic to cool. I know that Mr. Reynolds shares my excitement when I say:
Cool gear standing out in the crowd, eh?
Ha! It’s funny how times change. I used to be the guy racing around the oldsters. Now I am one.
Waiting in line at the hot dog stand last night, a 20ish guy was having difficulty comprehending that nothing came on the hot dog, but there was a setup behind him where he could dress it as he so desired. The eyes of the 50-60ish vendor met mine, and I shook my head and said “Youngsters!” Got a horse laugh out of the vendor and a look of disdain from the kid.
Not sure exactly when I morphed into the cranky old bastard that I have become, but I’m sort of digging it.
https://twitter.com/Kings_6thMan/status/1636601312925331457?s=20
https://twitter.com/Kings_6thMan/status/1636601314812784645?s=20
My “MY GOD I’M OLD!!!” moment came a couple of years ago at a Rivercats game. Mike Yastrzemski was playing the outfield for the ‘Cats, and I said to my wife, “That has to be Carl Yastrzemski’s kid – I saw Carl play for the Red Sox in Oakland once.” Then I looked it up and discovered that Mike was Carl’s GRANDson. I needed help to the car that night. D’oh!!!
Oh for crying out loud. I didn’t know that either – his grandson! Oy vey.
Thanks a lot for carbon dating my fossilizedflatus status.
Maybe I can feel a smidge less aged – is ElRonToro around?
ElRon was around for the invention of the wheel.
word around the pictographs is that he invented fire and has been around long enough to have seen snakes with legs.
Buddy, Elron was around when you were just a baby flatus.
Did the kid say, “OK, BEAMER.”?
And did you get to see the Beam?
Well I just gave you one dap and you turned purple. I know what you mean Rob. I usually get 2 new Kings hats per year from family. Last season I couldn’t bring myself to even wear the new one I got for Christmas.
This season starting after we drafted Keegan and demolished the summer leagues I started wearing them every day…..even going as far to sleep in them. In my defense I fell asleep wearing them, didn’t wear them to bed on purpose…….unlike my King’s jammies.
And suddenly all these closet Kings fans are coming out of the woodwork dapping me up and saying nice things about the Kings. In prior years the best I could expect when people realized I was a King’s fan was a sad shake of their head. They wouldn’t say anything.
THIS IS SO COOL. LTB!!!
I think it is time to replace the name “Chuck Norris” with “Domatas Sabonis” in all the Chuck Norris jokes.
Good news regarding Huerter’s injury.
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1636757237178802178?t=ZPNbuNIVjC4WDB6BezLWKQ&s=19
That’s good news!!!
So I guess that Sabonis took over the all-time Sac. single season rebounding record? Thorpe with 837 was the prior, and Sabonis is now at 841. If he averages 12.3 over the final 14 games, he’ll eclipse 1,000 for the season.
Pfft, he does that in his sleep.
Mikal Bridges said after the game that the Kings played harder than the Nets did.
When was the last time you heard a player on the opposing team say that?
Last night!
Milestones thus far:
Win #41 – .500 since 2006
Win #42 – over .500 for the season (2006) and > .500 road record (2004)
Next:
Win #43 – first time the number of losses is < 40 since 2006
(dang – Rick Adelman never had more than a 38 loss season in his 8 years)
Is it possible Mike Brown > Rick Adelman? Adelman never won coach of the year . . .
I have a feeling that being a surprise team has more juice that coaching a great team to an excellent record.
Very true! George Karl won coach of the year and we all know how his tenure with the kings went.
TRIVIA TIME:
Gregg Popovich has only won COTY three times (20003, 2012, 2014) – he deserved many more. I remember a time when it seemed like winning COTY led to the Head Coach dismissals the following year.
Five Red Auerbach Award winners who were fired soon after:
2013 George Karl, Denver (hired by Sac mid season 2014-15)
2008 Byron Scott, OKC Hornets
2007 Sam Mitchell, Toronto
2006 Avery Johnson, Dallas
and… wait for it….
2009 Mike Brown, Cleveland (after two 60+ win seasons and fail to make it to the Finals so he was 86-ed. They rehired him in 2013)
Mike Brown will win COTY just on the basis he has a better relationship with the media overall than Adelman ever did. And Adelman never gave a damn about being COTY. That was my thought on it. Neither does Mike Brown, IMO. But, as always, these awards are simply popularity contests and little else.
Yeah, Adelman was about the job and going tf home. I truly respect that. Brown’s personality lends itself well to that kind of circus, but I offer a challenge:
Name one thing of actual importance that has ever been said in a post-game interview. They only exist because a thousand years ago, radio stations wanted a litt;e tape to tide people over until the next day’s paper hit the stands. It’s archaic, and I’d not miss them if the players managed to dump them from the CBA.
I think it’s a way of communicating things towards the public. That’s the big way I look at it. Is it that important? Eh, maybe not, but it’s also part of the sales pitch for the overall product.
Other than that, it’s not necessarily that important.
Could be a blessing as it might get us extended looks at Kessler, get TD going again and maybe Without Huerter Davion can get into more of a groove and start trying to score more again.. get guys going before playoffs
That’s a good point. These games carry the import of playoff contests, and throwing as many people into the crucible will have Sacramento more battle-ready when the series begins.
I’m loving the Edwards signing. Monte for EOY?
I’m trying to think who else might be in the running…
A case could be made for Cleveland and New York, both winners, the Knicks in particular far outperforming expectations. Ainge is probably on that list, but none of these are as impressive as McNair. Free agent acquisitions and trades, sure, but grabbing Mike Brown form a group of very good candidates?
Monte should probably make room for the hardware.
I found this link from ESPN interesting:
https://apple.news/A8pkzbz36Qmei_7r0DU61Vg
Yes interesting! I wonder how they determine who gets how much. Is it based on market size?
Badge Legend