GAME REPORTS

Birdman

New Scoreboard: Smaller, but sharp and accurate color. Like watching your tv from home... if your tv was a giant bigscreen. Definite improvement.

Chris: damn. again? at least its early...looked dominant before then.

Vlade: What can I say, It is the second coming of vlade. I was very impressed. Did everything right.

Bibby: Damn the man is good. Was all over the place doing everything except turn the ball over. The funny thing is he looks like jason from afar with that shaved head.

Peja: Much improved. If that is even possible. Was absolutely perfect. good defence. And an amazing behind the back cross court pass to bobby, i didnt even see bobby! i thought peja threw away the ball...

Hedo: played good, a little rusty on his shot.

Christie & jackson: gave what we have come to expect from them. steals galore. Bobby made hardaway pay for that cheap shot. 5 points from that foul...

Mario Bennett: I like him. He was very impressive and really contributed. I hope we keep him.

Eeyore

Just got back in from the game, got settled in and put the kids to bed.

Chris' injury looked like ankle the way it happened, running down court following a fast break and stepped on the heel of the guy in front of him and appeared, from the new improved jumbotron to roll it.

The way he was running he was able to protect it as he fell, that's what I think kept it from breaking.

Peja looked fantastical! team D was great and the hustle was there on all plays.

Cristie had a two great inside bullets to the back door cutter, one of which made shawn bradley look really dumb.

Bjax's d was great and Bibby is much better defensively that Jwill. He was staying in front of nash and disrupted several shots but nash still scored a couple of post up baskets on him. Reverse pivot fadeaway jumpers are hard to guard without some weakside help. But he had to earn them.

Hedo looked good and I loved right baseline drive with the left hand finish.

Fundy, I don't know guys... I love his play but I think we can get a more physical pwr fwd for him and mateen cleaves if we try. Webber can power it in when he gets mad, but after him we have Scott, if we want to leave scott at backup pf then we need another backup center. if not then we need another defender and bruiser at pf. We have too many great midrange shooters to carry another pf that shoots great from the outside and releases most of his shots moving away from the basket when he does take it in.

Somebody help me here who is available that might be pried away with fundy and some incentives, maybe on a team that lacks mid range shooters who hustle and rebound? Either that or who has extra centers on their hands and needs a point guard and a good pf?

Vlade looked super, ran the floor great and is still the best passing center in the leage.

I am really pleased with this team, and the way we played tonight.

WEBBER HURT (AGAIN!)

Critic

Sorry to hear Webber got hurt. He should definitely sit out till he can play without restriction; it's a long season and when they need him is at the end of it and after it. I think the Kings can win 55+% of their games w/o

him. It should increase Pollard's minutes from low 20's to low 30's. When Webber goes down it creates a FORTY-minute hole to fill, at least off prior years' coaching. If you assume that Hedo was going to get 30+ minutes anyway, he can only absorb a few more -- say 8 more. Pollard can only take about 12 or so more, given his fouling problems. Vlade could expand his PT a few (say 4) minutes (freeing Pollard for a few more PF minutes) and some of Hedo's SG minutes could be taken by BJ or Wallace, but Fundy will still have to play 12-20 minutes. This also makes Peja a Small World must-have in the first 2 weeks -- I predict he'll average 25 points or more and 8+ boards.

Reno Lady

I'll be interested to see how often they try Hedo at PF against some of the smaller teams, maybe even against Duncan who he shut down last year for almost an entire quarter. He doesn't have the bulk to go up against someone like Kemp but he's tough enough that he could hold his own against guys like Walker. It's a tricky situation for the Kings because other than Scot they don't have a legitimate backup for Vlade so they have to weigh the matchups very carefully.

king of the jungle

It sure would be nice to have another backup big man right about now, huh? Fundy ain't gunna cut it; he's just not mean enough (like I've mentioned). Well, I'm pretty disappointed that Webber's hurt and I am even more upset that this weakness in the Kings' lineup wasn't dealt with earlier. Maybe Petrie WILL pull off that Fortson trade

Who's supposed to start at PF now: Fundy, Pollard, Hedo? None of that's going to work. Fundy will be eaten alive by other starters, if Pollard starts we have no big man depth, and Hedo... well he's too busy shaking off his own injuries, plus he doesn't have the bulk / strength.

This is really why I've mentioned that - although I like Funderburke's game - he's useless to the Kings. We need a bruiser, not another perimeter player that won't mix it up inside.

jdawg

I don't think there's any reason to think Fundy won't do a good job while Webber's out. He's a decent rebounder, guards the pick and roll well, and runs the floor as good or better than CWebb. True, he's not a physical force but neither is Webber. That's what we've got Pollard for.

Of course we could always grab a Michael Smith/Aaron Williams/Jamie Feick type guy. In fact that's the kind of player Petrie was hoping Art Long would be and is hoping Bennett can be now.

But to me, if we have a guy like that on the floor along with Pollard we have two big men who aren't really scorers. But then I'm biased. I like Fundy a lot.

But in any case lets wait and see how long Webber is really out for before we get too upset or start arguing about playing time and free agent possibilities.

Hallama

I like the way the Kings play w/o Webb. Of course, they are a better team with him but when he is out the Kings move the ball like it should be done. While the Kings aren't a great individual defending team, they are looonnngggg! They get their mitts on a lot of passes. I hope Hedo gets some of the PF minutes. For whatever weaknesses it may cause on D, it sure will be a mismatch on O for the Kings.

Is there any doubt Bibby knows how to play the game? I like the way he plays in the halfcourt, looking to cut back door or hit jumpers. The back door play between Bibby and Vlade might become a staple play for the Kings this season. Yes, his D needs work, but I still like his instincts better than JWill's.

The Kings are still a lower level playoff team without Webber and if they can manage a +.500 winning percentage then they will be good. For one, Webber will have to play a role when he returns after seeing the team do just fine without him. Rebounds and D like in 99'. Am I dreaming?

I wouldn't be surprised if Petrie is trying to dump Cleeves and possibly Funderburke in a package deal, or, trying to convince the Maloof's to use a little of their exemption to lure a player like Gatling. You never know. Realistically, the Kings will go into the season with a huge Question Mark. I won't even bring up Mason.

I like Bennett better than Smith. He seems more aggressive in the paint, and has a nose for rebounds and can convert. However, he did have 6 TO's last night, ew!

Cat Man

Sure a month without Chris Webber isn't a good thing, but let's not go overboard by looking for a half-baked replacement. Heck, a month off may do the big fella some good. In fact, Vlade Divac could use a break in April to be ready for the playoffs.

Give me Scot Pollard at power forward until Webber's ready.

And, Chris, this time you're back when the wheel's right. Not a minute earlier, got it?