Baby steps work for newbie Kings

Three games into their 2010-11 NBA season, the Kings have displayed enough positive traits about which they can feel good entering Monday night’s home opener against the Toronto Raptors.

Sacramento came home Sunday morning with two victories in three road games to open their season. The methods of victory likely won’t become the blueprint for success.

Yet, the Kings have one of the league’s youngest teams. Any victory is a good one and any road victory should be appreciated that much more.

Ultimately, it won’t make a difference if the opponents - Minnesota, New Jersey and Cleveland – prove to be weaklings. As the Kings attempt to establish themselves as a solid team, one of the keys is defeating teams the league’s weaker teams.

Those are teams against whom confidence can be built and lessons to be learned.

Moreover, the Kings have a four-game home stand over the next 10 days during which they can use practice time to work on weaknesses.

The best way to look positively at the season’s first three games is consider the alternative. The Kings, who certainly could have won Friday night’s game in New Jersey, also could have lost each of the three games.

Perhaps the trip’s most impressive feature is getting two victories without playing particularly well as individuals.

Tyreke Evans missed the first game due to the league mandated suspension stemming from his reckless driving arrest this summer. Evans played erratically in both games, yet remains capable of taking over contests.

Evans’ growth will be a major determining factor in how quickly the Kings improve. There has been a constant harping on his perimeter shooting. His shot does look much better, but ultimately it will be his shot selection and decision-making that most influence his and the team’s advancement.

Evans has to find the fine line between being aggressive and trying to do too much. It is a line only supremely talented players encounter.

People question his shooting ability, yet it must be remembered he’s 21 and working with just one season of college. It’s no coincidence other young guards of similar experience – Derrick Rose, Brandon Jennings and John Wall – also have similar mountains to climb.

Consider Hall of Fame guard Walt Frazier came out of Southern Illinois in 1967 incapable of making open 18-footers. Frazier played three years at SIU and ultimately became a seven-time NBA All-Star because of his ability to get where he wanted on the floor. Frazier worked on his shot and became one of the league’s best scoring guards because he combined shooting ability with getting the shots he wanted when we wanted them.

Currently, Evans, even in most half-court situations, relies on physical and natural ability. The sooner he learns how to survey situations and take advantage of defenses and defenders, the more prolific he’ll become. He won’t have to work as hard to score.

The Kings don’t need Evans attempting 19 and 20 shots as he did respectively against New Jersey and Cleveland, especially when many of them are forced attempts.

However, it merely is one important factor in the team’s overall learning process.

There are many basics upon which the Kings must improve to begin maximizing their potential. It’s clear to see they have improved team athleticism and depth.

Yet, running their offense more efficiently begins with making hard cuts. It includes developing the offensive patience to work for good shots and thereby forcing defenses to work.

The Kings want to run so they must secure defensive rebounds and run the floor hard collectively. However, they must work at converting fast-break opportunities. Right now, simply put, they stink on the break.

Perhaps more important is the Kings need to run hard to get back on defense. That commitment is paramount to becoming a sound defensive team.

They’ve taken a few baby steps towards becoming a viable team by winning a couple of road games they easily could have lost.

Momentarily, that will suffice.

Early look at Cousins shows big, talented, emotional young man

It’s safe no player in the 2010 NBA Draft attracted more attention than Kings’ first-round draft choice DeMarcus Cousins.

Granted, it’s early. Cousins’ professional career begins tonight with the Kings’ first preseason game tonight at Arco Arena against the Phoenix Suns.

However, so far, and again, it is so early, what I’ve seen from Cousins is a determined, fearless, highly-intense competitor on the floor and a big, soft, friendly, thoughtful teddy-bear type of young man off the court.

He’s emotional and it doesn’t take long for his feelings to reveal themselves externally. He’ll likely be one of the early tests for the NBA’s attempted cut down on players’ outwardly visible reactions to officials’ calls.

Does being an emotional young man and wearing said emotions on his sleeve make him a bad person? No, at the worst, potentially it might make him Rasheed Wallace Lite.

For whatever the value of initial impressions, perhaps Cousins should be Pooh Two, since Kings rookie point guard Eugene Jeter's grandmother already tagged him with the moniker.

Perhaps the pair can be Little Pooh and Big Pooh.

Preceding the draft, Cousins’ personality and demeanor were the objects of more direct hits than your local drinking establishment's dartboard.

Cousins, who turned 20 Aug. 13, was considered, even by his critics, to be the draft’s second-most talented player behind his Kentucky teammate John Wall, the overall No. 1 choice, selected by the Washington Wizards.

Yet, the size-desperate Kings were criticized across the board for selecting Cousins with the draft’s fifth choice overall.

On the court, Cousins has much as much to learn as he brings to the table. As with most young players, it’s important to consistently remember, he just turned 20 years old.

Back in the day, players had the luxury/reality of college years and experience. Cousins spent just one season at Kentucky. For perspective, check out your life at 20.

Imagine it being on stage for everyone to see. On second thought, personally, I'll pass on that concept.

Here's Cousins speaking with reporters following Monday’s practice. Cousins, listed at 6-foot-11, 270 pounds, chased a loose ball Sunday night at Arco. He ended up in the crowd.

“I really wanted to send out an apology,” Cousins said when asked about the incident. “I tried to dodge the kid and ended up mushing the lady in the face. I had to choose who I would rather hurt. I want to apologize to them. I felt bad for doing that.

The Sacramento Bee reported the pair’s names to be Erin Thurman and Tyner, her four-year son. They might want to call the Kings media relations staff to see if they can score a pair of tickets for a future game and perhaps even procure the chance to meet Cousins.

I'm guessing Tyner and Cousins would enjoy each other. Cousins possesses a wonderful sense of humor and clearly doesn’t take himself too seriously. I’m guessing Cousins likes and gets along well with kids.

“I’m trying to get the ball,” he said of the pursuit into the front row. “I thought I broke the lady’s neck. I was really scared that I’d hurt the lady’s neck. I guess that comes with courtside seats.”

That it does, but I’m guessing the pair would go for the same opportunity again.

Coach Paul Westphal complimented Cousins’ performance in the scrimmage and also said he’s done well in previous scrimmages.

Cousins said his major preseason goal is to find his role on the team.

DeMarcus, allow me to give you a little insight. Be a beast around the basket. Continue to display your wide array of skills and play hard.

Said one NBA executive who asked for anonymity, “Cousins is more than just a scorer and rebounder. He really can pass the ball and he seems like he likes to do it. In some ways, he’s similar to (Chris) Webber. I don’t think he can shoot the ball as well as Chris, and I don’t think he’s as long. But as far as the unselfish mentality, I think they are very similar.”

Cousins said Monday he’s excited about playing his first preseason game.

“I am looking forward to it,” he said of going against the Suns. “We’re tired of looking at each other’s faces, guarding the same players. It’ll be nice to get a change.”

Cousins and Jason Thompson likely will log many of the minutes at the center position. Samuel Dalembert, an off-season acquisition from Philadelphia for center Spencer Hawes and Andres Nocioni, will miss the game with a strained left adductor muscle.

The adductor is a group of muscles around the thigh and hip.

Connor Atchley, 6-foot-11, also likely will get playing time. Seven-foot rookie center-forward Hassan Whiteside is out for a few days with a strained left patellar tendon. Darnell Jackson, 6-9, of whom Westphal has spoken highly in recent days, also will not play because of a strained right hip flexor.

Westphal said Thompson will receive minutes this season at center, and particularly tonight.

“I think he will play some ‘five’ for us this year,” the coach said of the 6-foot-11 particularly (tonight) with Jackson and Dalembert both out. We’ll see him quite a bit.

“It might be kind of ugly if DeMarcus had to play 48 minutes, or 40 minutes or 30 minutes,” Westphal said with a laugh.

Rookies normally receive few breaks from referees with big, aggressive rookies receiving even fewer. It’s part of the learning process that Cousins already understands is coming. That doesn’t mean he’ll remember that in the heat of battle.

Westphal announced J.R. Giddens and Donald Sloan were waived. That leaves 17 players on the roster with the team currently looking to keep, “somewhere between 13 and 15,” according to the coach.

“I hope (Suns all-star point guard Steve) Nash doesn’t play as far as winning” the coach kidded. “I don’t even care who we play. We’re more in the mode of evaluating personnel.

“We want to do certain things against anybody we play. We want to take care of the ball. We want to get the ball inside. We want to play good defense and rebound and certainly, you play good defense, you have to have good transition defense, which you have to have every night.

That’ll be interesting to see how that holds up.”

It will be interesting to see how Cousins fares during his introduction to NBA battle.

2010 NBA draft day shows league gone wacko

On the draft day when news leaked the Portland Trail Blazers already had fired General Manager Kevin Pritchard, but he'd continue to conduct their day's dealings, it became totally real the NBA has Gone Wild, Mad and insane.

Wouldn't it have been comical if Pritchard decided to submit a wise-guy name for one of Portland's draft choices? What if he'd traded Brandon Roy to a team he might already have a hookup to join as their new General Manager? And could you blame Pritchard after the stunts owner Paul Allen has pulled with him?

Chicago and Miami traded players and draft choices to create cap room for perceived opportunities to make runs at a free-agency class expected to be highlighted by LeBron James, Amare Stoudamire, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Carlos Boozer, Joe Johnson and possibly Dirk Nowitzky, to name a few.

It's funny to hear observers call the Bulls the winner of the draft and they made no picks.

Part of me wants to see James jack the entire league and stay with Cleveland to see what moves teams who have bet on the come then make.

James appears to be running things all over the league right now. David Stern is the Commissioner but James, should he decide to do so, could indirectly have teams jumping through imaginary hoops.

James seemingly could tell the Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat and New Jersey Nets each that he'll join their team if they follow his plan.

Undoubtedly, James has the NBA in the palm of his talented hands. What he'll do in this power position remains the question.

Who would have believed one of the NBA's alleged bad boys - Rasheed Wallace - is expected to leave $13 million on the table and retire, just because he can?

Kentucky became the first school to have five players - John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton - drafted in the first round. Only Patterson attended Kentucky more than one season.

Orton, who did not start a game for John Calipari's Wildcats last season, was drafted by Orlando after averaging 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 13.4 minutes.

Teams have made moves to create salary cap moves to impress these so-called superstars, yet Wade is the lone player to have played an integral role on an NBA title winner. Stoudamire's defensive efforts for the Phoenix Suns during these recent playoffs told me there would be no way I'd give him maximum dollars.

Bosh's Toronto Raptors last season had a 40-42 record and its 105.9 points allowed per game tied New York for the third most points permitted behind Golden State's 112.4 and Minnesota's 107.8.

The New York Knicks are enlisting entertainment stars/celebrities to basically beg and plead James to come to the Big Apple. If the Knicks get James, do these stars get free season tickets? They certainly should.

The Sacramento Kings draft fifth and get the draft's most talented big man in DeMarcus Cousins, who was bypassed by three teams in part because of alleged red flags.

The Kings used the 33rd choice to draft Hasaan Whiteside, a terrific athlete, whose own reported issues caused him to drop like a rock in the draft. Whiteside already has spent time working Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon and plans to do so again before the 2010-11 season begins.

James says he's about winning and that will be his No. 1 consideration when time comes to select a team. We'll find that out if James takes less money than he could get to align with what seems the best situation.

Now this guy is one of the league's top two or three best players and he's purportedly setting himself to be in the best position to win multiple titles. James has yet to win one title and he's allegedly thinking about winning multiple championships.

Ideally, putting oneself in position to win a championship along with maximizing monetary options is what the concept of free agency is all about. However, there are no guarantees. Injuries can take the best laid plans wash them down a drain with immediacy.

Clearly, the league and sports in general have become something we've never seen before. Where sports will go in the future it is impossible to predict.

No longer will a Jerry West toil for the Los Angeles Lakers for more than a decade only for the thrill of winning one title.

No longer will David Robinson hoop with the San Antonio Spurs only to luck into a No. 1 pick of Tim Duncan and win an NBA championship.

For me, there's something quite sad about that. Then again, I've never even tweeted - yet - so what do I know.

To think, when I first snuck into the NBA draft, it was held via conference call in the league offices in a room around a big table with a couple of telephones. If I'm right, the New York Post's Peter Vecsey and I were the lone reporters in the room.

Now a team that doesn't make a draft choice is dubbed the winner.

Kings look to Cousins, then Monroe. Could move No. 33

The Sacramento Kings aren't sure which players will be available today following the NBA's draft four picks, but they believe either DeMarcus Cousins or Greg Monroe will be there for the taking with their selection, the fifth overall.

According to sources, the Kings would love it if Cousins was available. They apparently have the gumption to believe Cousins is an immediate impact player and their organization has what it takes to help him unveil the greatness of which his talent is capable.

They'd have no problem selecting Monroe, who is a versatile offensive performer. Monroe is comfortable handling the ball in most situations. That's a great quality for any player, particularly a 6-foot-11, 250-pounder.

Monroe has been compared to former Kings center Spencer Hawes because both are excellent passers, yet I don't see it. Monroe plays inside far more willingly and comfortably than did Hawes.

Monroe, I've been told, also has a right-handed jump hook in addition to his natural lefty jump hook. As a lover of post play, that's a beautiful thing.

One more thing on Cousins for which he rarely receives credit is egolessly handling the attention directed towards his teammate John Wall.

Wall was the man expected by observers very early to become the draft's No. 1 choice and often had the ball in his hands. Cousins had enough maturity to handle not being the offense's focal point.

The Kings research indicated Cousins was well liked by his teammates. Whereas the nay-sayers question - even before his selection - wonder if his NBA teammates will respect him. Now, those folks are scary and uninformed how the process works.

If the Kings choose Cousins, it becomes their organization's job to work with Cousins firmly, intelligently and consistently. Coach Paul Westphal will have to show more toughness from the get-go and show the young player who is controlling the situation.

Westphal has to learn how to get the most out of Cousins and how to manage the 19-year-old he'll be watching grow up and mature before his eyes. In fact, the Kings organization - ownership, front office, coaching staff and players - will become part of Cousins' maturation.

If the Kings are fortunate enough to choose Cousins, the ability to walk his way through reaching his potential could become franchise-altering.

It's rare for Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie to give up any hint of information, but Tuesday he said his team "had the 33rd pick at this point."

Petrie chooses his words thoughtfully, always to a fault of the reporter probing for information, but the inclusion of 'at this point' seemed to indicate he certainly be open to moving up to get a player surprisingly available or moving back and possibly getting two second-rounders for one.

One never knows when it comes to that Petrie brain other than to know it's usually working.

During our conversation Tuesday, Petrie called and asked my opinion, saying it wouldn't be a draft if I didn't tell him what he should do with the pick.

That's a running joke between us because in 1998, he allowed me, then the Sacramento Bee beat writer, to watch Jason Williams work out. I was so impressed with Williams' athletic, ballhandling and passing ability, the next day I wrote Williams should be the choice.

Petrie would rather that had not been written and not so coincidentally, I've not seen an entire player workout since. Heaven forbid, I would be able to see every player's workout. That won't happen again, I don't think.

Now if he really wanted my opinion, he'd allow me see the workout,s then, more importantly, let me sit in the players interviews. The easy part is analyzing talent. It's checking out the mindset that will be handling the pressure and immediate financial windfall a first-rounder receives.

And after talking with Petrie, it hit me I'd been played - again. He'd gotten more opinion from me than I'd gotten from him.

They call him Worldwide or Uncle

It's freaking me out how much attention William Wesley is receiving these days. He's called Worldwide (allegedly given to him by Jalen Rose) or Uncle (that's by the current generation of players), but back in the day, he was just Wes.

The guy was everywhere. During the course of covering the Kings during the season, he'd pop up in Philadelphia or Detroit or Golden State or New York. Even then he had enough sense not to go to New Jersey since nobody else was either.

And we're talking 20 years ago, Wes had all types of hook-ups. He had more juice than Minute Maid and on a number of different fronts. He's comical but chill.

The low-low (staying out of the main frame) was Wes' forte.

And now, during these days of Media Gone Wild, there are folks who act like he's the pilot for the most interesting man in the world. Surely, he's the most mysterious man around the NBA.

However, until Wes finds Bin Laden or halts next year's expected lockout, he has some things to show me.

And no, I don't know exactly how Wes earns his living. Yes, I asked numerous times, and if memory serves me er what he said when it really didn't mean anything to me, he just said, "he knows a lot of people."

The only reason I asked Wes what he did was I was curious how my man got all over the country. I knew I had to write a couple of stories a day to have my airfare and hotel paid for by a newspaper.

But I'd never heard of Wes in any trouble, so not knowing what he did was no big thing. There are a couple of cats like Wes around the league. They'd just be everywhere without discernible reason for being there.

However, those guys have come and gone and Wes remains in the cut.

Check out ESPN's 30-for-30 on Escobars

If you don't like soccer, then make it a point to watch the 30-for-30 presentation on Pablo and Andres Escobar and there respective connections with Columbian soccer. Not only are their stories enthralling, but the soccer footage is amazing.

Quick hitters

Did Cleveland's Mo Williams really tweet he was on his knees begging the Cavs not to trade him?

Would that make you try to trade his butt faster, like it would me?

Chris Paul recently said he was open to being traded by New Orleans.

That's good because he couldn't prevent the Hornets from trading him, anyway.

When did things change to the point where players believe they should have their situations orchestrated to win a title instead of working through the process each year. If it was good enough for Michael Jordan, Jerry West and the rest, it seems like it should be good enough for these young boys.

Projections are key to drafting

The madness preceding the National Football League and National Basketball Association drafts is a unmitigated sickness with which we'll just likely will have to deal.

The conversations about the talents of potential draftees is cool. However, anyone who even hints of knowing, on May 24, which players will be selected when and by whom on June 24 is fooling themselves.

OK, I might bet a couple of pennies that Washington will use the draft's No. 1 choice overall on Kentucky's John Wall. After that, forget it. There are too many unknowns (i.e., trades, workout impressions, behavior, off-the-wall selections) the day before the draft, much less a month prior, to have a true clue.

Yet, here's what makes draft success such a difficult assignment. It's not what you are looking at now, but what you foresee in the future.

It's tricky enough to judge how good players are now, especially after seeing some of them for just one collegiate season, much less how good they'll be four years from now.

Talk about unknowns! If you have any kids, this needs no explanation. If you don't, look back at your life five years ago and remember what you projected for your life today.

If I ever were given the opportunity to make one of those draft calls, I'd be looking for an obvious advantage. Some players will be Paul Bunyan strong. Some will be Usain Bolt speedy. Some will be Tyreke Evans big and strong. Another will be Chris Paul-Rajon Rondo quick. There has to be some attribute that makes a player stand out. Some can have Stephen Curry-ridiculous, lights-out shooting ability. And Curry also has other crazy skills.

Speaking of unknowns, how many of us believed following Cleveland's blowout victory in Boston in Game Three of the Eastern Conference semifinal series, LeBron James would appear to have one foot out of Ohio? And Mike Brown would have both feet removed from the Cavaliers leadership by owner Dan Gilbert.

Brown won 127 games during the past two regular seasons and was fired Sunday night. Granted, the Cavs did not get to the NBA Finals, much less win the title.

Brown was a victim of expectations he helped create with the regular-season success. Couple that with James' impending free-agency and running into a Boston Celtics squad playing at an incredible and heretofore unforeseen level, Brown was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

And remember, Brown was the 2008-09 NBA Coach of the Year.

Clearly, Brown's offensive approach left much to be desired and why he kicked J.J. Hickson's athletic butt to the curb, I do not know. But that seems like a lot of success only for a guy to get canned. That's the frigid way of the pro sports world.

Moreover, how does Cleveland land a coach - especially one with other options - without knowing if James will return. That might be an influential factor, most would say.

While on the coaching carousel, it was the 2006-2007 season in which the Boston Celtics and coach Doc Rivers fashioned a 24-58 record.

Way back then, there were many Boston fans and journalists who believed Rivers was incapable of leading the Celtics back to glory. They wanted Rivers fired and if General Manager Danny Ainge could get a ticket on the bus out of time, so be it.

The Celtics spent the 2007-08 season winning the NBA title and I wouldn't bet against them winning the 2009-2010 championship. Not after the defense they've played during these playoffs. They could be arrested for what they've done to Cleveland and now are doing to Orlando.

This squad, under the guidance of the coach many wanted fired, have been the epitome of the word, 'team.'

My pick of two conference final sweeps went down the drain Sunday night when Amare Stoudamire showed his wares and the Lakers suddenly couldn't handle Phoenix's zone in Game Three of the West finals. L.A leads, 2-1, going into Tuesday night's Game Four.

I still like the Lakers to win the series and advance to an NBA Finals collision with the Celtics.