May 27, 2004 - ...A night at the “cuts” is always healthy to remind ourselves of the topics on the minds of other hoop nuts. The “cuts” is a Wednesday night Sacramento neighborhood tradition. My friend from high school gives haircuts to about a dozen close-knit buddies that have been down for each other since, at the least, junior high school. The barber, and his clientele debate basketball’s most pertinent issues on these Wednesday’s after 9:30 pm. Usually, the whole deal is over with by midnight. Among the regulars, are two former division one college players, one employee of the Kings, one former employee of the Kings, and some really intelligent cats that work for the IRS, Oracle, and the Department of Justice among others,  The topics are thrown out at random and anyone with even the slightest hint of a thought can pipe up. The barber is slamming beers and becomes more vocal as the night passes.  ...Topic number one last night was still the Kings. Should they change coaches? Should (Can) they trade Chris Webber? Can you believe anyone questioned Bobby Jackson sitting out in the playoffs?

...At the cuts, a vocal former point guard continues to call for the Kings to pursue Phil Jackson after the season ends. Citing Phil’s ability to win in the playoffs, and his uncanny ability to bring out more from his players by publicly criticizing them from time to time, my man is sure that Jackson is the answer. Another wanted Pat Riley. The consensus seemed to be that if Webber returns he needs a different voice that will challenge him more.  Webber has four years and roughly 80 million dollars still remaining on his huge contract. Isiah Thomas has long been a fan of Webber’s so perhaps a deal could be arranged with the New York Knicks. The Kings needs are a shot-blocker, and back up perimeter shooter that can guard wing players. ( Read Shaun Powell of Newsday)   ...Universal agreement at the cuts that Bobby Jackson has heart and should not be questioned for sitting out while hurt. ...Yes, Peja Stojakovic has a right to be upset over the way things changed when Chris Webber returned. In the same way Kobe Bryant needed to remind his teammates they needed him, Peja kind of said f^^k it! Peja looked like he couldn’t care less as the once beautiful offensive flow the Kings had, turned to stagnation down the stretch. Peja was the leader of the team with the best record in basketball until Webber returned. Peja  bounced to Greece with the quickness once Sac was eliminated. ...Remember how we looked at the common traits of the last eight remaining playoff teams? Conclusions: All NBA elite eight playoff teams have at least one player ranked in the Top 14 in regular season efficiency at one position. Now we are down to four teams.  The conclusion here is that all in the final four have at least one player in the top ten at their position. The best player on each team, by position efficiency ranking: Lakers: Kobe Bryant #1 Shooting Guard. T-Wolves: Kevin Garnett #1 Power Forward. Pistons: Ben Wallace #10 Center. Pacers: Jermaine O’Neal #6 Center. Conclude this—if you don’t have a player on your team that is one of the ten best in the world at one of the five possible positions, you cannot make the final four. Teams with hope: San Antonio #2 Power Forward Tim Duncan. Dallas #3 SF Antawn Jamison, #5 PG Steve Nash,  #6 PF Dirk Nowitzki & #7 PG Marquis Daniels. Sacramento #2 SF—Peja, #7 PF Brad Miller, #9 PG Bobby Jackson. Houston #7 Center Yao Ming. Milwaukee #10 SF Keith Van Horn. Memphis #6 SG—James Posey. Golden State #6 SF Brian Cardinal, #8 Center—Erick Dampier. Denver #8 PG Andre Miller, #9 Center Marcus Camby. New Jersey #4 Point Guard Jason Kidd. Seattle #4 Shooting Guard Ray Allen, #8 SG Brent Barry. Cleveland #5 PF—Carlos Boozer. New York #10 PG Stephon Marbury. Miami #6 PG—Lamar Odom. Orlando #1 SF—Tracy McGrady. Phoenix: #4 SF Shawn Marion. LA Clippers #4 PF—Elton Brand, #5 SG Corey Maggette. Toronto: #5 SF Donyell Marshall. All teams not on the list above currently have no shot at being in the final four or winning it all anytime soon. (Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, New Orleans, Philly, Washington, Chicago, Utah, & Portland)