HOOPSAHOLIC

There are a lot of different things that surprise me. Whether it's a scary movie, a deer running out in the middle of the road, or some no-name athlete going off for the game of his life. Often times, there are things that come around that are so unexpected, that they should really be expected. For example, when I woke up on Monday morning to the news that the Sacramento Kings have fired head coach Mike Malone, it's safe to say I was caught a little bit off guard. Despite my shock and confusion, I remembered that when it comes to the Kings, outlandish decisions like this should've been expected. 

There are many factors that make this a terrible decision by Kings management, starting with the timing of Malone's termination. The Kings currently have an 11-13 record while playing without their franchise cornerstone in Demarcus Cousins for the last nine games. Before Cousins was sidelined with a viral infection, the Kings were off to a stellar 9-6 start to the season. For the Kings to fire Malone due to a poor record without their star player is absolutely cowardess. It's as if the front office wanted Malone to fail, and waited for the prey to weaken when Cousins was out before striking at the jugular.

I've read reports that Malone and the Kings management weren't on the same page when it came to the system and structure of the team. I completely blame the whacky Ranadive for that one. If you haven't heard yet, Ranadive is the Kings owner who is adamently suggesting that his team play a four-man zone on defense, while leaving the fifth player on the other end of the court to "cherry pick" the opponent and score easy baskets off of the fast break. Honestly the plan seems so crazy that it could maybe work, but it's still a whacky game plan that most likely won't translate to the NBA level. Also, lets not forget that Ranadive was the owner who had a "man crush" on rookie Nik Stauskas and was very influential in the Kings decision to draft the guard out of Michigan. Don't believe me? Just watch this hilarious Grantland video to the left that shows his undying desire to draft the Canadian sharp shooter.   

To summarize this madness, it's unfair to pin the blame on Malone when the organization as a whole is the one to blame. The Kings have seemingly been in rebuilding mode since the last time Chris Webber, Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic were rocking the royal purple. Also, I don't think pairing up a volume shooter like Rudy Gay with a dominating personality such as Cousins was the most genius idea in the world. Regardless if the Kings were to fire Malone or not, they weren't going to make the playoffs in the loaded Western Conference. I believe Cousins is going to be one of the NBA's elite sooner than later, so let's all hope that the front office in Sacramento doesn't screw that one up too.