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Simply
"grading" them, as Aldridge claims
is done isn't going to stop them from making
the same mistake again. They need to be hit
where it hurts most of us - in the pocketbook.
There's no reason the league couldn't set
up a system of monetary penalties for the
refs, where every game is reviewed on a daily
basis and if the officiating team blows over
so many calls, each of them is assessed a
fine. If they have too many of those games
over a set period of time, they're suspended
for a game, week, month, whatever.
In
addition, it seems that a lot of people have
conveniently forgotten that many of the alleged
"hard fouls" against Shaqette are
in fact retaliations for punishment he's already
dished out on the other end and got away with.
Something
I didn't pick up yesterday until I re-read
the article bawsor posted is that Shaqette
had already hit Miller "from behind"
during the game and received a T for it. Why
wasn't the Zen Disaster talking to Shaqette
about his behavior & telling him to cool
it instead of yelling at the refs? Jackson
has some responsibility in this situation
too.
The
question becomes: How do fans lodge their
complaints and bring attention to their view
so that Stern & Co. will pay attention?
Mail and e-mail aren't the answer because
they can choose to respond or not as they
see fit. Booing the refs won't work because
that can actually become a detriment to your
team - and it's the league that ultimately
hires the officials, they don't hire themselves,
so it's the league that needs to be put on
notice.
CHRISTIE
VS. HEDO
Bawsor
I
would just as soon trade Christie than let
Hedo leave for lack of playing time. Hedo
is bigger and stronger, and is at least a
decade younger.
Prior
to coming here, DC was a journeyman having
spent most of his time with the Knicks. He
had an unremarkable time in New York. I am
sure most Knicks fans would be surprised to
learn that DC played in NY.
My
biggest beef with DC is his inconsistent outside
shooting. Doug is an excellent defender, but
Kobe always had his way. Doug has the bad
habit of fouling Kobe while he's jumpshooting,
usually resulting in 3-point play.
Between
DC and Hedo, it's a no-brainer.
Hedo
would be my shooting guard.
I
like Doug, so please don't get me wrong. But
I also like Hedo's potential. If it means
cutting down DC's minutes to increase Hedo's,
I would do it in a NY minute.
Many
of Hedo's European friends are getting more
national exposure and playing time. It's just
a matter of time before Hedo will also want
more than his usual 20 minutes per game.
Adelman
will have to confront this problem soon, or
else the team run the risk of losing Hedo
to other teams.
I
obviously don't know how Hedo feels about his
playing minutes, so I am just conjecturing.
But
being one of the top European players who
recently led Turkey to a surprise second place
in the World championship, I would think Hedo
feels he deserves more playing time relative
to other European imports.
Unfortunately,
players like Tony Parker, Radinovich (?),
Kirlenko and other imports are getting more
national exposure and playing more vital minutes
for their teams. I think it is therefore important
for Adelman and the Kings organization to
think this problem through.
Knowing
Hedo, he'll probably not complain and just
ride it out and play somwhere else. But that's
not what I want. I want Hedo to feel he is
an integral part of the team and its future.
Kingme
I
think long term, it's Hedo because of his
age. But he still does alot of bonehead things
that annoy me. I don't know if it's youth,
or maybe a cultural/language thing and he
doesn't understand what RA wants. He tries
too much one-on-one, and always, without exception,
fails miserably. That's a pretty bad stat
for an NBA player! He can be a ball-hog, and
sometimes he's maddeningly tentative with
his wide open shots. (he 'll second guess
himself) A lot of this is just lack of experience
which is why I'd take the savvy, seasoned
DC anyday!
Pondo
I
like DC for what he does in the locker room
and the community. As in many things, the
numbers do not tell the whole picture.
Why
are you saying Hedo will want more than 20
minutes per game? Heck, every player should
want more time. But if he don't get it I think
he will still want to be with the team. Plus
he is getting into the game in the 4th quarter
when the game can be lost or won.
Hedo
is up and coming but have you seen DC's play
in the 4th quarter the last 2 games? If it
is between Hedo or DC playing the 4th quarter
I would take DC but it is not, they are BOTH
playing and the team is winning.
My
other point is this, you write about Hedo
wanting big bucks for his next contract. I
reply "Mr. Petie and the Maloofs will
take care of him!"
Still
think Bawsor's points are interesting, how do
you keep a young rising player happy and wanting
to stay with a team where he is not the starter?
RPO
I
think, as DC ages and Hedo become better,
that the Kings will gradually faze out DC
and bring Hedo into the starting line-up.
I think that's the Kings' long-term plan.
Remember Hedo is only 22 and has 4 years left
on his Kings contract (including this season
and assuming they pick up the option on his
5th year). And as good as DC is playing nowadays,
I think Hedo will be even better in a matter
of years. I think the Kings are more likely
to let Wallace go when $ and PT issues arise.
It would be shame to have to let him go if
he turns out to be another Petrie gold mine,
but like Critic said, ahhh the problems of
having a great team.
I
say the best (and maybe only) thing the Kings
can do is tell Hedo that he's got the starting
job after DC finishes. And in the meantime,
he's gonna get other people's minutes here
and there, also. Sooth whatever ego he might
have by telling him how good he is and how
he figures so prominently in the team's future.
Tell him to just keep developing for now and
to learn from a savvy vet like Crispy.
I
don't really anticipate a problem with Hedo,
really. I think the problem, if there will
be one, will be with trying to keep Wallace
(if he turns out to be good).
Blackluv
If
Hedo feels he has better opportunities elsewhere,
he will leave. Just like the Kings will trade
him if they think they can get a better player.
I've learned not to be so dreamy after Patrick
Ewing was traded. It's a fickle business.
SactoGreg
Sorry
folks, but your speculation regarding Hedo
and him playing a more important role with
the Kings in the future may be a bit off (as
it relates to being a starter). The fact is,
Christie has another five years in his contract
after this season, and the way he is playing,
I cannot see Petrie or the Maloofs sitting
him or trading him to play Hedo. That is just
ridiculous!
What
will most likely happen is Hedo will be traded
or become a free agent and will move to another
team where his talents can help in a starting
role. I agree that he is moving towards a
starter, but I just don't see it here anytime
soon... and I mean that over the course of
the next few years. Hedo just simply won't
wait long enough behind Doug to become a starter
on this team, and I can see the Kings organization
using Hedo's talent as trade bait. Don't get
me wrong as I love Hedo on our roster, but
Doug is the heart and sole of this team defensively,
and his offensive game is really starting
to heat up. I just don't see that changing
anytime over the next few seasons, barring
serious injury.
Hedo
is complimenting the Kings greatly off the
bench, and I really hope that it continues
through the remainder of the season. He is
a great asset to the team, but it is because
of his current role as a bench player that
is greatly contributing to his success.
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