GAME IMPRESSIONS AS J-WILL RETURNS

Bonsy

This was the first time I've been able to see the Kings this season.

Peja looked more determined. Hedo looked extremely confident. Both of them had a good two-man game going with Vlade.

Bobby Jackson looked improved and like he was more in flow with the offense than he did last season.

Adelman started Jabari Smith at PF and he was decent on defense, but his offense isn't much.

Bibby didn't shoot well but he played ok. Jason has that special something that makes you want to watch him, but when all was said and done, Jason had 5 turnovers and Bibby didn't have a one. It was kind of fun to watch Jason run down and put up that 3 with 22 seconds on the shot clock and miss and the rebound go right into the Kings hands.

I really expected Jason to light up ARCO and have a big game, but he didn't. He seemed to be trying too hard, especially at the end when he started making a couple of just stupid behind the back passes that resulted in turnovers.

He drove to the hoop and got out of control and the ball went out of bounds. He complained that he thought he was fouled a little too long to the ref and got a technical. His coach took him out for a bit.

I thought maybe Jason had begun to see what he needed to do, but after watching him tonight, I see exactly the same Jason.

Gotta love him, though. Nobody has his excitement on the floor. I kind of felt sorry for him by the end of the game.

king of the jungle

This Kings team has the talent to play .600 ball till Webber's return. Sure hope Bibby gets into an offensive rythem soon; we need him to take control of this team and hit open shots.

I do think that JWill's performance tonight exemplifies why the Kings got rid of him. 4 for 15 or something, tons of turnovers, wild 3's, no defense, technical fouls, etc. I've always been a big fan of JWill's game, but I'll always be a Kings fan first if you know what I'm saying. It's all about the home team baby... GO KINGS!!!

Kingme

I wasn't at the game but listened to most of it on the radio. I had the feeling Jwill would fail this trip to Arco. The Grizz announcer was saying he seemed nervous before the game. It was nice to see him acknowledge the fans during intros. I watched the news afterwards, and Jim Crandell had the teaser about Jwill saying a lot about Sac. well, amazingly, he consented to be interviewed, I guess it was before the game, and it was so obvious to me that he's still very hurt by the way the Kings handled the trade. He said he missed the fans, but mostly he missed his team mates. then he said he didn't miss the Kings organ. and repeated what he had said earlier - that no one had the decency to tell him he had been traded, or offer some kind words of encouragment. His last words of the interview were, "To hell with the Kings!" I mean, his pain was palpable. I found the whole thing very sad, and heart-breaking. JWill is a vulnerable, complicated soul. I hope he will be happy in Memphis, but I liken the whole thing to a failed love affair. He is the jilted party; and naturally he wants to show that he's still okay without his former lover who dumped him. I know this sounds melodramtic, but I'm sure you've all been through this in high school, college,etc. So, what do you do after you've been dumped? you find another person and claim how ecstatically happy you are. But you can't wait to meet up with your ex at some party or dance, so you can show off your new love and show everyone how happy you are. But the truth shows...it shows! And tonight, I saw it JWill's eyes - the humiliation, anger, disappointment, and defiance. How it must have hurt when he saw CWebb and the others! and when he stepped onto the floor at Arco, crossing at mid-court, over the Kings logo, sitting in the small, cramped visitors locker room. I'm sure part of him wanted to ask, "Can I come home now?" O, JWill!

Milos

You already know that I like the fact JWill is no longer a King, but I don't understand why no one had the decency to tell him that he has been traded. That is unfair and I don't blame him for saying bad things about the Kings organization if they treated him that way. Sure, I think he is a punk, but still I would find the time to tell him "Jason, sorry it did not work out, this trade is going to help your career as well as our team. Good luck and stay well." How hard can it be?

If they did the same thing with Barry, it is absolutely appalling. I mentioned that he is likely to be traded way before it happened, and I think it was a good move - especially for Barry. He has been playing great for the Pistons, their fans are delighted with him and he will have a very good season.

JB

Key comments that summarize Jason as a person:

I just
want to go out and do what I do, and the hell with the Kings

Lack of maturity?
Selfishness?
I think so. Lots of use of the word "I" and none of the "We". The talk about Jason maturing over the summer is not evident in that comment.

Jeff

I don't recall JWill having positive things to say about the Kings' management when he was on the team last season or after the playoffs ended. I do recall his demanding to be traded in the press (did he have the decency to go to management with that request before he made it in the press?), and now he is pissed. Did he personally go to the Kings and tell them he misspoke and didn't mean it? Seems to me the kid still has some growing up to do...Oh, well.

Anyway, we had fun on our trip. Glad to be back in the Us though.

cQ

The standing ovation that the ARCO crowd reportedly gave Jason Williams before the game speaks volumes about the class of the fans and the true value of Jason to this franchise the last three years. The three players that turned around this franchise four seasons ago were Vlade Divac, Chris Webber and Jason Williams. Without all three, the Kings would have remained NBA Siberia and a joke; and it was Jason, not Chris, who was the icon for the Kings throughout the world, especially early on. Until Rick tried to tame Jason, the Kings were the most exciting team in the NBA, and continued to be the highest scoring team even then.

The lukeward applause for Mike Bibby spoke volumes as well. Jason earned his applause, and Bibby will have to earn his too. But as much as Bibby has been handed the point guard starter's role by the Kings organization, the sports media moguls and mouths, and the majority of Kings fans posting here, he has not actually won the role. Why? Bobby Jackson.

Jason outplayed Mike Bibby. But Bobby Jackson outplayed them both last night. If Bobby keeps this up, Bibby will be coming off the bench a lot this season; but then coach Rick's beef with Jason is part of the reason that Bibby is here, so he might start him inspite of the fact that Bobby is clearly outplaying Bibby.

Before I ever heard of Jason, I wanted the Kings to somehow draft Bobby Jackson and have him play either or both 1 and 2 for the Kings; but once I saw Jason play I was hooked, and decided not to boycott the NBA entirely (which is what I was about to do before I saw Jason play for the Kings). And now Jason has taken Bibby's spot with the recently transplanted Grizzlies, and will build a career and life in Memphis now. Meanwhile, almost everyone has Bibby replacing Jason here as starting point guard; but there is a problem: Bobby Jackson is better. All the Bibby-hype I read, and Rick's determination to prove himself right by pushing Bibby to the forefront might blow up in all the Bibby-ites faces, because Bobby Jackson is tearing it up, man. If he continues to do so, he might pull off something wonderful: he might take Jason's spot here and do even better. Bobby can be almost as exciting as Jason and almost as steady as Bibby, and he is a far better defender than either of them. So...

I hope it happens. And even though I personally would like to see Hedo Turkoglu eventually play the point regulary, I hope Bobby WINS the starting point guard spot. The guys deserves an honest shot at it.

Besides this would make Bibby one of the best bench point guards in the NBA and/or excellent trade bait for another center. And by the way has Bibby signed an extension with the Kings yet? I must have missed that.

Go Bobby Jackson!