Results are bourgeois. Let's listen to Kenny Natt talk about why Spencer Hawes spent the whole game in the post, in the shadow of Yao Ming:

This is player development. Winning is the goal — of course it is. And the Kings hung tough until about 90 seconds remained. In the process, Donté Greene learned all about Ron Artest, Bobby Brown got some crunch time action, and Hawes faced adversity in the post.

Hawes won't learn to be a great post player in practice alone, or just by watching Hakeem Olajuwon clips on YouTube. He needs these real experiences against taller opponents. Of course, there's only one Yao. But fighting the giant will make fighting Greg Oden, Andrew Bynum and Andris Biedrins for the next decade a bit easier. Trial by fire or snowstorm or both.

Brad Miller, when he's active, looks like Vlade. Just feisty, stabby, crafty as all heck. Those — and an incredible basketball brain — are the attributes that kept Divac valuable into his mid-30s. I have no false expectations we'll see this level of activity from Miller on a nightly basis (hence the trade talk) but it is invaluable while he's here.

Other thoughts:

* Someone teach Jason Thompson how to avoid travel calls. Almost half of his turnovers are "ball-handling" errors — turnovers, the rare double-dribble (he hasn't had one), strips. Kill the traveling calls and his turnover rate will look much better.

* Someone teach Kayte Christensen about plus-minus or tell her to never talk about it again.

* Mikki Moore: 20 minutes, 2 points, 0 rebounds. AAH! There was one particularly atrocious Luis Scola offensive board. It came off a missed Rockets three. Thompson boxed out his dude (Landry or Hayes) beautifully. Moore just need to turn around and grab the ball. He turned … and didn't make a move. His man (Scola) swept in for the rebound and the score. BRUTAL. Nevertheless, Moore is still the best big man defender getting playing time. I understand what he brings to the table, and that his veteran leadership is valuable and unlikely to continue at a high level if you bench him outright, and that his trade value needs to be maintained. But Shelden Williams seems like a much better option as fourth big man right now.

* Anyone else pining to see what Bobby Brown could do as a starter, just for one or two games? I might get that request tonight, as Beno Udrih strained his hamstring in the second half. Amick notes Beno has scored 10 points combined in the last three games. AAH!