The All-Star break provides as good a time as any to look back at the first-half of the season and analyze how the Sacramento Kings are playing. Who’s taken a step forward? Who’s taken a step back? Who’s living up to our expectations?
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The Royal Pain crew is here to do just that, so without further ado, here are our mid-season grades: one position per day, one grade per player.
Jared Stone kicked us off with his look at the Point Guards, and Rafe Wong gave us his thoughts on the Kings Shooting Guards. Today, I will take a look at the Kings’ Small Forwards, and grade how well they played in the first half of the season, and what they can work on going forward.
Rudy Gay: B+
We should all be relieved that Gay’s eye issues cleared up, as he has provided the Kings with all-around play all season long, despite some stretches where we wondered was Gay even on the court. With George Karl now running the show in Sacramento, Gay should be even more potent in Karl’s intricate offense, and his numbers should only get better, and should produce more plays like this one:
Omri Casspi: D+
Casspi has come up big for the Kings at times this season, but his season is still (by my standards at least) a letdown. When are we going to see Casspi finally grow into his offensive capabilities? It seems like we have been waiting FOREVER! But now with Karl on board, maybe he can finally get out of Casspi what other coaches have tried, and failed, to do.
Derrick Williams: C+
Williams still has to get more consistent in his offensive game, but he has been the Kings heart and hustle off the bench this season, and he has had some games where his energy brought the Kings back from almost certain death. If it is one player I am interested in seeing in Karl’s system the most, it’s Williams. I think Karl can finally point him towards the path of consistency, which will make him either a more valuable piece to the Kings’ puzzle, or a nice value in the trade market, which ever one comes first.
Hey, stay tuned to A Royal Pain tomorrow, when Kyle Robert gives his grades for the Power Forwards.