"Kings co-owner Joe Maloof shouldn't have blasted coach Reggie Theus two weeks ago, but the family owns the team and can say what it wants.

Hey, the Maloofs have their Ma-loot, and I have this space.

It's difficult to believe Theus is as nice a guy as he seems. But he's about to "nice" his way right out the door. Winning ugly I know about, but losing ugly is too unsightly to continue for long.

Before Theus gets toasted, here's a little butter:

The Kings are the softest team in the league. For a moment, there was a thought of softening that statement. On second thought, that statement is on point.

For those who believed Ron Artest had to go, well, here is what's left. No doubt, the injury-related absences of Francisco García and Kevin Martin have hurt the Kings. Yet there's no way a team permits the opposition to score so many easy baskets unless it is soft. Neither the presence of García nor Martin will affect that. It's not about a scheme or a system. It's about having tough players on your roster.

Bobby Jackson is the lone proven tough guy receiving playing time. Kenny Thomas will battle (see occasional sparring partner, former teammate and now assistant coach Shareef Abdur-Rahim) but gets no playing time. Shelden Williams has the body and mentality to bang but also can't do it from his seat.

Second-year man Spencer Hawes shows heart but is light in the buns and experience. Rookie Jason Thompson must slow down from warp speed so his true toughness can be measured.

OK, Reg, you're up.

Brad Miller gets an inexcusable, juvenile (stick a finger into your mouth first) technical foul during overtime at home against New Jersey, in a game the Kings lost by one point. The Kings had a one-point lead and badly needed a victory. Miller should have been banished to the bench.

Sometimes, your veterans look like they don't care. Caring isn't exploding and receiving a technical the way Miller and Mikki Moore have been wont to do. It's not throwing away a pass and then stopping your participation in the game while you complain or blame someone else, as Beno Udrih did against Dallas.

Reg, these are offenses for which guys should be publicly blasted. Just like leaving their teammates out to dry defensively, giving up wide-open layups instead of sending drivers to the free-throw line and generally playing as if they don't care."