A lot of Kings fans, myself included, spent the 2008-09 season bemoaning the inability of Sacramento starting point guard Beno Udrih to cleanly pass the ball. But let me assure you: Beno has no problem passing the blame.A candid, borderline cheerful Beno discussed the abominable 17-win season with Sacramento media Monday. And his opinion on what went wrong was impossible to misinterpret: blame coaches Reggie Theus and Kenny Natt.
"Sometimes last season, I didn't know if I was a small forward or a point guard," the 6'3 Udrih said. "We were definitely confused. We didn't have roles."
The Kings signed Udrih to a five-year, $30 million extension before the 2008-09 season kicked off. Udrih had joined Sacramento as a minimum salary free agent the season prior when Mike Bibby went down with a sprained thumb and the back-up plan at the point guard position -- current New Zealand league stud Orien Greene and swingman Francisco Garcia -- didn't work out. The fan and media perception was that after inking his big contract, Udrih lost the fire that drove his solid 2007-08 Kings debut.
But Udrih insisted Monday that coaches never really put the team -- or the ball -- in his hands.
"As a point guard, am I just supposed to dribble past half-court and pass the ball? That's how it happened, because everyone wanted the ball, and the coach didn't set roles," Udrih said. "Coaches have to set roles."
The point guard made a point to note how differently the team under Theus -- who was fired in December -- and rookie coach Natt had been run in comparison with the Spurs teams coached by Gregg Popovich Udrih played with to open his NBA career. Udrih never seemed sentimental about his time in San Antonio, where he clashed with Popovich over minutes, until experiencing the dread of a cellar-dwelling team.
Udrih missed out on Eurobasket due to an injury suffered during tournament preparations. His Slovenian team qualified for the 2010 FIBA World Championships. Udrih said Kings medical staff checked out his knee Monday morning, and everything came up roses.
He hardly seems ready to relinquish the starting point guard role believed to be the birthright of rookie Tyreke Evans. In fact, he hardly seemed ready to admit Evans is even a full-time point guard.
"I just see Sergio [Rodriguez] and I as being the real point guards, the pure point guards," Udrih said. "I see Tyreke as playing the one and the two, as a combination." Kings coach Paul Westphal wouldn't commit to a starter at the position, though Evans starting at point guard during Vegas Summer League and Kevin Martin is the incumbent at two-guard.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
More accurately, it was the lack of coaching, not the bad coaching, Udrih blames. Theus got the quick hook. December?! And Ken Natt never had a training camp or a chance. But he got a lot more games than Theus did. Maybe Reg will get an assistant position someone else. It will bu a tough task trying to win with this bunch of guys. Westphal can coach talent, but these are a bunch of no names.
Giles, Theus already hooked on with Kurt Rambis' staff in Minnesota.
Your right, and Bill Laimbeer did, too. Going to be a lot of hard work up there, too. I should have remembered that.
I thought Greene was kicked out of the New Zealand league for violating drug regulations? At the moment I'd still rather have him than Beno and his bloody contract.
We all know that Reggie blames you, Tom, for his shortcomings in Sacramento. I have therefore concluded, by the transitive property of blame-shifting, that you, Mr. Ziller, are to blame for the King 17-win season.
I'm not sure how you sleep at night, sir. The fans of Sacramento are disgusted with you.
Silly Ziller told Beno to get past half court and pass the ball? If the defense doesn`t stop the ball, he should take it straight to the hoop every time, lay up, or, if he can, dunk. Chances are, the defense would tighten up after 3/4 court. But Iverson`s main virtue as a ball player, maybe as a person, is, despite all his flaws, he takes the ball to the hoop. Point guards always have to force the defense to try to guard them. If they can force the defense to cut off the drive, then pass or shoot. But if teams don`t guard the point, and aren`t forced to pay for it, the point guard may as well just kick up his legs on the sidelines on offense, he`s just a cheer leader, and his team is forced to play 4 on 5 ball. I know `Vich was just a forward, but I`d have thought he`d have at least taught Beno that!
Sorry Beno, Martin is locked in at the 2 spot, and Omri will be at the 3. That puts Evans at the 1, and you right where you should be....back on the pine.