1260http://fullcourtpress.kingsconnect.com/archives/126Wrap+up2008-04-16+17%3A51%3A01Kayte+Christensen

Wrap up

Well, Kings Fans… 

Another season is officially in the books.

Even though everyone involved may not be pleased with the 2007-08 season, I think it has been a large success. Part of being players, coaches and fans is never being satisfied with the outcome of your season. There is only one team that should, and can, ever be elated about their season and that is the team that wins the championship. Sport is about always striving for more. So, on that note, let’s look back on the season — talk about the great moments and build from there.

 

My personal favorite moment was John Salmons’ last-second shot against Dallas at ARCO, weaving his way through multiple defenders for the nice kiss shot off the glass…and then…THE CELEBRATION! John is usually so even-keeled and unexcitable but, when the shot went down, his celebration gave us all a rare glimpse at the “other” side of John Salmons! 

A close second in my book has to be Kevin Martin’s last-second shot to take the game in Seattle, which ended what had already been a long road trip. The shot fell…Kevin turned to his teammates and said “LET’S GO HOME!” That was a News10 game and I specifically remember being on my couch and automatically recognizing what he said. When you’ve been on the road for a long time, there is no feeling like the buzzer going off in that last city knowing you’re getting on a plane and will sleep in your own bed that night. But, not settling for a loss and fighting ‘til the very last second is what makes that my second favorite play of the season!

This season was not just about memorable plays or victories that no one thought could happen. It was also about players stepping up and into roles and young players developing along the way and coming into their own. We talked about this on our last House Party Live broadcast, who was the team MVP and who was the most “unsung” player (MUP)?

 

You can’t win games without Kevin’s 23-plus points a night or Ron’s defensive domination and offensive contribution. However, there are two other players that really stuck out to me this season — Brad Miller and Francisco Garcia. 

Every analyst, coach and player has a different definition of an MVP. And in this situation, MVP and MUP could go either way. I choose Francisco as my MVP of the season for a very specific reason. His role on the team was up and down — starting, coming off the bench and even playing just a few minutes in some games. It really depended on the health of the team and the whim of Coach Theus. But that is what makes Francisco special. He has the ability to be unphased by all of that. No matter what, the moment he steps on the court, he brings it.

The League is full of great players who, for one reason or another, didn’t get the opportunity to shine right away. Gilbert Arenas is a great example. He didn’t start as a dominant force in the League, but one can argue that he had the same, or a similar skill set, when he wasn’t getting court time. It’s all about being given an opportunity and taking advantage of it. Another great example is Francisco’s teammate, John Salmons.

Unlike Salmons, Francisco is seemingly unaffected by the drama surrounding playing time and coaching decisions. The moment he touches the court, he is going to play his game. And he is willing to be challenged. He willingly plays out of position despite knowing criticism will almost immediately follow based on what may seem like silly turnovers or questionable shot selection. He doesn’t care what is said and he shouldn’t. Regardless of those mistakes, everyone knows you can never question his heart, work ethic and desire to be out there, injured or not. That makes Francisco my MVP.

Then there is Brad.

 

And this is where the definition of MVP can be argued. Even though I feel Francisco earned that title, Brad, without a doubt, is the most important element to the team. Brad is like the WD-40 that keeps this team running smoothly. It’s rare to have a center that controls the offense like Brad. If you didn’t notice, Kevin’s offensive output succeeded in large part with Brad catching the ball on the elbow and finding Kevin on backdoor cuts to the basket. But as you know, Brad is an amazing passer and outstanding offensive player, when he chooses to be. Plus, Brad filled another very important need this year. 

Rebounding was something the Kings knew was going to be an extreme weakness because the team didn’t have any real girth in the paint. That’s where Brad and his veteran leadership came in. He filled a very specific need, rebounding, which isn’t necessarily his specialty. He did the dirty work on both ends of the floor this season making him my MUP!

That still leaves next season though. What should we expect?

Well, that’s a tough one for a team that is in a transition of sorts. But that is the beauty of sports — taking what you have and squeezing every bit of talent out of it. After the strong finish in 2007-08, it leaves me anxious for next year and seeing just what Reggie and the boys will do!