Kayte’s Blog: The All-Star Break Benefits
February 10, 2010 by Kayte Christensen
As we’re finishing off the proverbial first half of the season, even though we’re really 52 games into an 82-game season, to say the Kings are welcoming this All-Star break is an understatement. The team started off the season posting a 14-17 record, but since ringing in 2010, its gone 3-17 – it’s been a tough stretch.
So what will the five-day break between games do for team morale? A LOT!
I believe the early season success can be attributed to multiple factors. First, you have a young group of players, babies really, who were getting their first taste of the NBA. So without a doubt, they were having a blast! Second, you have to admit the early schedule was in their favor. Then, right around the holidays, the opponents became much more difficult. The Cavs and the Lakers came to town… Oh, and then there was the road trip to Laker Land a week later. As the team’s schedule became increasingly difficult, the wins became more and more difficult to come by.
So what does it do to a young group of players who were having fun, winning games and riding an absolute high maybe they didn’t realize they were bound to come down from? Well, most of the time you would think the team would crash hard, but it really didn’t. The wins were scarce but the effort was never questioned and the scores weren’t blowouts, by any means. In most games, the Kings were in position to win right up until the end, and then…they came up short.
Then, last night, the Kings pulled out an overtime victory in the basketball mecca, Madison Square Garden. If you say the Kings were due for a win, you have to consider this — the Sacramento Kings, as we know them, have only won six games ever in MSG. This includes the Webber, Bibby, Vlade and Peja-years! Even that team struggled winning on the Garden floor. What was the difference in the Big Apple? The Kings had fun again! If the team can sneak one out in Detroit on the second night of a back-to-back set before heading into the break, it sets the stage for some serious ground to be made up in the next 30 games.
While their teammates take a break, Tyreke Evans and Omri Casspi will be taking part in All-Star Weekend, including the Rookie-Sophomore Game on Friday. On Saturday, Evans will participate in the Haier Shooting Stars contest and Casspi will play a game of H-O-R-S-E. Yes, they will be tired and yes, they could use the rest. But they’re going to have a blast in Dallas representing Sacramento, and hopefully it’ll carry over when they step back on the ARCO floor for the Kings-Celtics game on Feb. 16, and continue from there. And while Evans and Casspi’s teammates enjoy their mental and physical break from the game, they should return rejuvenated and ready to have fun on the floor again.
In the end, if a team is having fun on the floor, you’re more than likely going to see a positive result!
Very well said. I'm hoping for good results for Evans and Casspi in the events they'll be participating, but I'll be happy just seeing them having fun. Good luck to them both.
The two road wins should do a lot for the Kings morale. I am looking forward to All Star week-end. I am also looking forward to getting past the February trade Deadline so the Kings can just focus on winning instead of fencing off crazy trade rumors. keep up the good work Kayte ! Go Kings!
Yeah I want Tyreke and Omri to win the Rookie Challenge. ANYBODY KNOW WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THE ROOKIES BEAT THE SOPHMORES?
I think Tyreke is going to help a lot to get the Rookies a WIN!
Everyone will see what Tyreke is made of in a National Scale (TNT).
Your doing a Gr8 job. Jerry Reynolds has to be fun to work with. You have wonderful personality and it's nice to see and listen to your inside stories of the King players.
I know I'm kinda late be with 30+ games left are the Kings done ?
I wouldn't say the Kings are toast, but they're done for the season. On the other hand, they could play a big part in playing the spoiler for teams jockeying for playoff positions. Personally, I'd like to see them knock the Lakers out of the top spot in the West, but then that's probably wishful thinking on my part. Nonetheless, the Kings have plenty of games left where they can still leave a good solid mark of progress for the 2010 season. Nobody wants to see them finish out on a long losing skid. We want to see the team gel and prepare themselves for next year's playoff run. Team chemistry, cohesion, and style of play are things that can be strengthened throughout the remainder of the season. Let's hope the team stays focused on the objectives of the future.
I think you need to write a blog that justifies Paul Westphal's "musical chairs" style of assembling a starting lineup. Why players are shuffled in and out of play without any sort of consistency. Perhaps this kind of coaching would make a lot more sense if the Kings enjoyed some measure of success, but lately it's shown to be nothing more than a haphazard style of play that contributes more to losing games than winning them.