Sacramento Kings come close to winning - 7th straight loss

Publication date: 2010

Sacramento Kings are showing some life, but they lost their 7th game in a row, which represents their second 6+ game losing streak in the past 18 games. The kings are 2 losses away from being the worst team in the NBA.

There's not much to say about the Sacramento Kings these days. They're definitely the worst team in the league. If the Kings lose 2 more games, they will indeed own the worst NBA record. How does a 3-1 team end up with a 4-14 record? The Kings had a perfect plan to accomplish that feat.

The Sacramento Kings coasted out of the gates. They were on pace to have a successful season, but then they acquired the losing bug. Every game the Kings play is worse than the previous. After a 3-1 start, the Kings stringed together a 6 game losing streak, and then continued on with another 7 game losing streak. With that said, they only won 1 lousy game, going a pathetic 1-13 over the past month.

As I predicted, the Kings let the Lakers run all over them. Then, the Kings had a grand opportunity to win at home versus the Mavericks. They ended up losing by 2 measly points. What makes matters worse is their inability to find a win. The Kings organization assembled one of the most disastrous teams in the Sacramento era. The way the Kings are looking, I wouldn't be surprised if they finish with less wins than their 17-65 record in the 2008-2009 season.

Kings fans are definitely disappointed in the poor product. Every fan hoped the 3-1 start was a sign of good to come this season. Even the first game at home was sold out. Now that the Kings are losing, the fans are going to drop like cow waste. I must admit the Kings are a disaster. They look like a team on life support. Maybe the Sacramento Monarchs could beat Evans and company, but they were victim to the owners choosing to invest into a quality Kings product.

I would rather watch the Sacramento Monarchs play than to endure another Kings loss. The Kings are doing one thing right; they're losing every which way possible. They get blown out one night, and the next night they lose by 2 points to one of the premiere teams in the league. The last time the Kings beat the Mavericks and the Lakers in the same season was some time ago. I believe Artest led the Kings to victories over the teams in his homecoming to the Kings. A lot has changed since then, and now we must face the truth - the Kings are a bad product with no quality.

While the Kings came close to winning tonight at home, they still lost another game. Kings fans have to get used to a long season filled with losses. Evans went from standout to a bust. The rest of the team are a bunch of overpaid bums. It's sad to say; the Maloofs should close down the franchise to save the city of Sacramento the embarrassment.

I will still follow the Kings as a loyal fan, but it is hard to sit quietly without complaining about the lack of determination and competitiveness. Maybe the Kings will prove us wrong. However, I doubt there will be any improvement until the Kings figure out how to play as a team. The Kings came close to winning versus the Mavericks, but the final score mirrored the previous results - another loss to ponder over a lost season.

Written by Jason Allen Goodlin 

The Los Angeles Lakers are on a serious Losing Streak

Publication Date: 2010

The Los Angeles Lakers are on a 4 game losing streak. Their streak will surely end tonight. The NBA's worst team is coming into town. Sacramento Kings have played the most uninspiring basketball the past 13 games.

The Los Angeles Lakers started off the season on a high note. Their teamwork ethics proved that champions have the swagger to make it past the best teams. What I noticed about great teams is that they need to lose games to become better. Why? Championship teams must go through struggles to increase their intensity because they learn what it takes to overcome adversity while playing against the best teams. The Lakers are lucky that Sacramento is rolling into town with one of the worst records in the NBA. Now the Lakers can end their losing streak, and work on putting up more wins. 

The Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers used to compete in games that electrified the crowd. They had a rivalry that compared to the Boston Celtics of old. Now all I see is a bunch of overpaid bums running the Kings show. There is no energy on that team, especially after the Kings played well enough to win games last year. I refuse to  invest one minute of time watching the Kings play. The Kings seem to lose every game with no determination to win the next game. Giving up is easy. The Kings do it best.

The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to end their 4-game losing streak. I'm confident the Lakers will end their losing streak tonight against the Sacramento Kings. The Kings are a terrible team with no desire to win. They started the season off with 3-1 record, but then they immediately fell fllat on their faces. It's hard to believe that Kings fans have to endure a pathetic group of crappy players. Tyreke Evans looks the complete opposite of his Rookie of the Year demeanor last season.

The Los Angeles Lakers will run all over the Kings. The Kings haven't beaten the Lakers since Artest was a member of the team. The long drought will continue on with no end in sight. Last Christmas I watched an entertaining game against the two rivals at Arco Arena. I don't expect much from the Kings this year. Ever since Kevin Martin was traded away, the Kings lost their mojo, and accepted passiveness as their new team theme. The only thing the Kings are good at is losing games, and do they do it well. The Los Angeles Lakers will beat up the Sacramento Kings to end their 4-game losing streak.

Written by Jason Allen Goodlin

Sacramento Kings are a disaster

Publication date: 2010

The Sacramento Kings are looking for like the worst team in the NBA. The 18 point defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Clipper shows that Sacramento has a long way to go to become good again.

Sacramento Kings are the opposite of great. When watching the Kings play, there's nothing to be excited about. What was once a great organization are now the clowns of the NBA. Maybe the Kings should change their name to the Sacramento Jesters.

It seems that every time the Kings step on the court, they have no will to win. The 2009-2010 team had something to prove, but then they looked like a train wreck the remainder of the season. The move that destroyed the Kings was allowing Bonzi Wells to leave. While John Salmons was a good player, he was not impressive. Wells played tough enough against the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.
Kevin Martin played inspiring ball off the bench. He was a scoring machine that could carve out 40+ points without breaking a sweat. Ron Artest motivated the Kings to play at a high caliber. What happened to the Kings?

The Kings organization accepted a bunch of unproven, overpaid bums to run the show. It's not easy to be patient, especially when the San Francisco Giants claimed their first championship in San Francisco era. The Sacramento Kings reached the top of their game in the early 00's, but they failed to take the next step to greatness. The 2001-2002 Kings were good enough to win the title. Instead, the Kings let the Lakers mentally beat them.

When Artest was traded to the Kings, he brought with him a swagger to win. He turned the Kings into a tough team. The Kings competed against the best, maintaining a winning streak at home, and also making the basketball world take notice of their finesse play. Rick Adelman knew how to coach the Kings. He had the pieces to win. All the Kings had to do is go after one more player, but that player ended up going to the Lakers (i.e. Pau Gausol).

The Kings organization pulled the plug too early. They traded away all their pieces; they accepted an unimpressive team. Tyreke Evans is a good player, but he's not a great player. Great players motivate their teams to win. However, Evans did manage to display a great demeanor last year. Because of his play, the Kings competed against the best NBA teams, almost beating Lakers at home in a double OT loss, and giving the Cavaliers a run for their money in exciting OT thriller. I had an opportunity to watch the Kings lose twice against the Lakers in the double OT game - once in regulation and another in the first OT.

The 2010-2011 Kings are a disaster. This is the worst group I've seen since the 90's. Some may argue the 2008-2009 Kings were worse. On the contrary, that team lacked what this current team is supposed to have - toughness and youth. Maybe it will take time for the Kings to win. I don't see the Kings returning to the grand stage. They're playing like a bunch of jesters looking for laughs. The Kings are the comedy act of the NBA.

The Kings 3-1 start was erased with substandard execution. They played good defense to hold the Hornets to under 80 points, but they also scored below 80 points to lose the game. Going 1-9 since the great start qualify the Kings for the worst team in the last 10 games. A majority of their losses are blowouts. If the Kings don't get their royal act together, their season will be over before the All-Star break.

The Kings once had the most exciting act in the NBA. Now Kings fans have to accept players that have no heart to win. Maybe the Kings can reverse the disaster into learning how to win again. Only time will tell the Kings tale. Go Kings!!!

Written by Jason Allen Goodlin

Sacramento Kings not getting it done

Publication date: 2010

The Sacramento Kings began the 2010-2011 season on a roll, going 3-1 in the first 4 games. Since then, the Kings have come back down to Earth with a mortal display of uncertainty.

The Sacramento Kings began the 2010-2011 season on a roll, going 3-1 in the first 4 games. Since then they have returned back down to Earth with a mortal display of uncertainty and passive play.

You can't help but to think about Chris, Doug, Bobby, Vlade, Mike, Hedo and Peja. That was definitely a standout group, a team that played unselfishly to win as a team. Each night a different player picked up the slack to fuel blowout wins. It was uncommon for the Kings not to outscore teams with an array of slick passes. The Kings were known for mastering the pick 'n roll.

The 2010-2011 Kings look as if they're going down with a kick 'n roll. Their 3-1 start is already forgotten, and now Kings fans have to accept the 6 gamer losing streak as the theme for the season. Tehre is no good Christmas games on tap. I watched the double OT thrilled past Christmas season at Arco Arena. That was one of the most exciting games I watched at Arco Arena.

In the 2009-2010 season, I watched the Kings versus the Nuggets, which the Kings lost on a buzzer beater shot. Then, there was the 2003 Dallas versus Kings Christmas game that went down into the books as another loss. To think of a likely trend, I never watched the Kings win a game while attending a game. I thought the streak would end last year with the Kings, but they blew their shot to put away the Lakers. As usual, the Kings buckled under pressure.

Now that the 3-1 start has been erased by a 6 game losing streak, the current Kings are playing like the worst team in the league. It reminds me of their pathetic play in 2008-2009. I hope they can find a way to win again. At 3-7, the Kings are in for a long disastrous season. There is no hope when the Kings lack teamwork, don't pass as much, and there is no desire to win as a team.

The Sacramento Kings are not getting it done. They look like a high school varsity team playing against elite pros. I'm beginning the think there is no passion to play out in Sacramento, or that Arco Arena is haunted with bad memories of missed title opportunities. I will still root for the Kings to win, as I did for the San Francisco Giants to overcome their playoff drought to capture a title. You never know what can happen. The season is still young. Sacramento Kings have to regain their composure, and win as a team.

Written by Jason Allen Goodlin

The Sacramento Kings deserved to be champions

The real class of the NBA never won a title. They were destined to be champions, but somehow that chance was lost time-after-time again. Why did a team with so much class deserve to be treated with little respect? Sacramento Kings worked as a team. There was no "I" in their games. The Kings had everything working. They were close to dethroning the Evil Empire.

Chris, Peja, Vlade, Doug, Mike, Bobby, Hedo, and compay deserved the title. They fought through getting swept in the 2001 NBA Playoffs - the year before they made a run at the Lakers in 2002. A year later, the Kings breezed through the Jazz and the Mavericks, en-route to facing the Lakers in the 2002 Western Conference Finals. In the series, the Kings were missing their 3pt specialist Peja, who had been injured in the Dallas series. Hedo filled in for Peja nicely.

I could remember the shot that was coined an "Horry-ble" finish for the Kings. The Kings had a lead from start to almost finishing the Lakers off in the each of the games. Game 4 was a heartbreak loss.

Game 6 was the start of something even worse. No matter what the Kings did, they couldn't be rewarded for their effort. Shaq had one lousy foul. Vlade and Pollard fouled out of the game. Lawrence was the third string covering a legend. What could the Kings do against their nemesis? They deserved to win this game, on the very night they would make it to NBA Finals. I watched the game from the Jumbo Screen at a Giants game. Everybody was focused on what was going on with the game. The Kings had the game all wrapped up.

All-of-a-sudden, Kobe decided to pop Bibby in the noise with an elbow. Bibby got the foul for trying to cover Kobe. After only a dozen trips to the line, the Lakers went on to shoot almost triple that amount in the 4th quarter alone. It was tragic. What was going on in this game? I couldn't believe the officiating. The San Jose Mercury News noted Game 6 as one that was lost because Kobe, Shaq, and the 3 referees were unstoppable.

The Kings lost their hopes to make it to the NBA Finals. They still had home-court advantage. A Game 7 to fix the Game 4 and Game 6 meltdown.

Game 7 was one of the most frustrating moments in sports. The Kings found a way to extend the lead to 11 points in the third. They were playing Kings basketball, sharing the ball, and just full of energy. What went wrong? Somehow, the Lakers made an improbable comeback.

We thought it was the Kings moment to shine in the spotlight. They worked so hard for this moment. Hardship-after-hardship, the Kings deserved to make it to the NBA Finals. They were a classy group of players that had millions of fans riding on their train.

The Lakers took the lead in the 4th quarter. They went up by 2 in closing stages of the game. The Lakers raced up the court to extend the lead, but a foul was called on Kobe. Bibby shot two of the most important free throws in Sacramento franchise history. He made both of them. Arco was loud! Kings could taste a victory. After Shaq missed a dunk, the game went into overtime.

In overtime, Webber hammered a thunderous dunk. The Kings were up 102-100. Thing started to fall apart. Hedo got trapped in the corner, near the half court line. Two Lakers swarmed Hedo, stripping him of the ball, and scored on the possession.

Peja rushed a wide open 3 point shot. He air-balled it! Dam! Things were looking grim. The Lakers stole the show, and took the hearts of the Kings Nation with them. They had no class. Shaq ridiculed the Kings, calling them the Sacramento Queens. The Kings squandered many opportunities to avoid Game 7, but left it all on the court, almost dethroning the Lakers in the process.

The Lakers never deserved to win the title. They were back-to-back champions, but in 2002, the Kings had the title within plain sight, but couldn't deliver. They let 3 games go, each of them they should have won.

The Kings were doomed again in the following year when Webber blew his knee out during a blowout loss. He should have never been playing, as the Mavericks were putting on a shooting clinic, embarrassing the Kings a game after enjoyed a blowout win.

The Kings were far better than the Mavs in 2003. They were waiting for a second chance to take on the Lakers. That never happened, as Webber's injury was too steep of an obstacle to overcome. Moreover, the Spurs dethroned the defending champions Lakers in 6 games.

The next season, the 2003-2004 Kings were off to a fast start. They looked far better than the rest of the NBA. When Webber finally came back from micro-fracture knee surgery, the Kings struggled to insert him back into the lineup.

After a close series with Dallas in the 2004 NBA Playoffs, the Kings faced the Western Conference's Number #1 seed Minnesota Timberwolves. The Kings were so close from going up 2-0, but fell apart. After being up 10 points with 4:01 left in the game, the T-Wolves went on 1 16-1 run to win the game.

The Kings returned home with the series tied at 1-1. In Game 3, the T-Wolves pounded away, taking a huge lead into the last few minutes of the game. With Peja and Bibby pushing hard, the Kings made a comeback. They rained rained three-pointers like they were going out of style.

After taking a narrow lead, Peja missed a critical free throw, which ended his free throw shooting streak. He managed to miss a free throw that would have won the game in regulation.

Going into OT, the Kings had their chances to squeeze out a win, but with a Bibby technical because of throwing off his headband, and Peja missing two critical free throws, the Kings lost Game 3 by 1 point.

In Game 7, the were down by 10 at half-time. The Kings didn't seem to have the fire that helped them win by 17 points in Game 6 at Arco Arean. Game 7 looked to be over, but Christie hit a 3 pointer with 13 seconds left, pulling the Kings within 1 point.

Cassell immediately fouled, making two free throws. He put the T-Wolves up by 3. Christie tried to shoot a 3, but missed the game tying shot. Miller squabbled for the loose ball, grabbed the rebound, and then flicked over a pass to a hungry Webber.

C-Webb jumped up, shot the ball from the 3 point line. The ball rolled around, and then rimmed out of the hoop. Webber dropped to his knees, leaving his heart on the floor - knowing the Kings wasted a prime opportunity to have another rematch with the Lakers.

The Kings never had a better shot ti win an NBA Title. The 2002-2004 Kings had all the weapons to get to the next level. They came so close to bringing a title to Sacramento. The Kings were a classy group of players that deserved to win a title.

One NBA title would have made this city happy. Instead, the Lakers won 3 titles, and then added another in 2009. The team that deserved a title never got one. The Kings have been unable to make the playoffs the past 3 years. This past season, they managed to win only 17 games - a franchise low.

The rivalry that made basketball fun to watch is now gone. Will the Kings ever have another shot to be a contender? Only time will tell. All the Kings players have moved on.

The Kings had a chance to duplicate the same success in 2007, but they decided to break the team apart and fire the coach.

All we can do is remember the good times. I used to listen to Kings games on the radio, watch them, and check out the stats on the Internet. I enjoyed watching the Kings. I will always remember how exciting the Kings used to be. They were the most electrifying team in the NBA.

The Kings earned the respect of fans, and the NBA. Only the Lakers were too arrogant to show some class. No matter what the record books read, the Kings will always be champions of the 2002 NBA season. May the Kings have another opportunity to win a title.

Read the article below about Webber, and What if?

http://ballhype.com/story/what_if_history_weren_t_chris_webber/