Clever timing by the Kings to announce they had dumped Coach Marc Crawford the same day another Staples Center tenant -- bunch of tall guys, a well-managed franchise with 14 championship banners -- was about to play the third game of its league finals.
Unlike the Lakers, the Kings don't know much about winning titles. They had that runner-up finish in 1993 and, um, well, they'll always have 1993. And the Miracle on Manchester.
Crawford wasn't going to get them remotely close to contending for the Stanley Cup, not with his habitual scalding criticism of the kids who are becoming the core of this team and will make up an even greater chunk of the Kings' roster and soul next season.
So, with the Lakers' NBA Finals drama providing deep cover, the Kings quietly cut Crawford loose Tuesday, two years and one month after saying they liked his "juice," General Manager Dean Lombardi's description of the energy Crawford displayed during his job interview.
That juice soured quickly, even for the Kings. The 21st coach in their history lasted only two seasons and missed the playoffs both times.
Lombardi made the right move to fire him. He probably should never have hired Crawford, who had unlimited skill at his disposal in Colorado with Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Co. and couldn't get some solid Vancouver Canucks teams past the second round of the playoffs.
The Kings had more hope than skill and Crawford couldn't function under those circumstances, couldn't be patient with kids who were learning and making mistakes and needed a teacher more than they needed a screamer who demanded more than they were capable of delivering.
They finished 20 points out of the last West playoff berth this season, coming that close only after a late surge that did nothing but reduce their odds of getting the right to draft franchise center Steven Stamkos in next week's entry draft.
Just like the Kings to put their fans through a miserable season and not even get the top draft pick as consolation.
"I don't think we were kidding ourselves into think we were world beaters but I think we set realistic expectations," Lombardi said during a conference call.
Lombardi knew he was in for a long rebuilding process that would have many bumps but he expected, in his second season, that the team would at least be competitive most nights. Too often it wasn't. The Kings' postseason chances were gone by the All-Star break, and that was unforgivable.
