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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12376758p-13232753c.html
Adelman isn't hitting panic button
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, February 17, 2005
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Kings and their fans have been spoiled by success the past six seasons.
The losing streaks have been few and brief, and struggles have been for other teams.
But this month, the Kings are only 3-7. Still, coach Rick Adelman maintains a big-picture perspective.
"All I've ever heard is that the regular season doesn't matter," he said. "So nobody should be too upset with this."
Adelman, however, omitted two facts. One, to minimize the regular season's significance, the Kings, as he is quick to remind, first must make the playoffs.
And two, the only true way to maximize the playoffs is to win the championship.
Adelman knew that Wednesday night's setback to the New Jersey Nets gave the Kings' 20 losses, just one more than the charging Houston Rockets in the Western Conference.
"No doubt, this is the toughest stretch we've gone through since I've been here," Adelman said, "but when I look back on it, I can see how it has happened.
"We've had starters in and out of the lineup, the trade (Cuttino Mobley and Michael Bradley from the Orlando Magic for Doug Christie), then the starters came back, and now Peja (Stojakovic) was out (with the flu). And then there are all the other things that have gone on recently, and you can understand somewhat why things have happened.
"The important thing is that we stay together as a group, and I think we'll be fine."
Mike Bibby and Chris Webber echoed Adelman's sentiments.
"I don't know what it is," Bibby said when asked the cause of the team's struggles. "But we need to work on some stuff, and we'll be all right."
On the Kings' final third-quarter possession, Bibby rolled his right ankle when he stepped on the left foot of Nets guard Travis Best on his way to making an acrobatic driving shot. Bibby said the ankle was not a factor in the fourth quarter.
Webber said he, Mobley, Bibby and Stojakovic must get healthy before the season resumes Tuesday night against the visiting Atlanta Hawks.
"Those are not excuses," Webber said. "We just need everyone to take a rest and come back mentally and physically ready. I'm frustrated and don't take losing well. But we stayed together as a family, and we'll do that and come back ready." But Webber added, "If I'm saying these same things Tuesday, then we're in trouble."
Adelman isn't hitting panic button
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, February 17, 2005
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Kings and their fans have been spoiled by success the past six seasons.
The losing streaks have been few and brief, and struggles have been for other teams.
But this month, the Kings are only 3-7. Still, coach Rick Adelman maintains a big-picture perspective.
"All I've ever heard is that the regular season doesn't matter," he said. "So nobody should be too upset with this."
Adelman, however, omitted two facts. One, to minimize the regular season's significance, the Kings, as he is quick to remind, first must make the playoffs.
And two, the only true way to maximize the playoffs is to win the championship.
Adelman knew that Wednesday night's setback to the New Jersey Nets gave the Kings' 20 losses, just one more than the charging Houston Rockets in the Western Conference.
"No doubt, this is the toughest stretch we've gone through since I've been here," Adelman said, "but when I look back on it, I can see how it has happened.
"We've had starters in and out of the lineup, the trade (Cuttino Mobley and Michael Bradley from the Orlando Magic for Doug Christie), then the starters came back, and now Peja (Stojakovic) was out (with the flu). And then there are all the other things that have gone on recently, and you can understand somewhat why things have happened.
"The important thing is that we stay together as a group, and I think we'll be fine."
Mike Bibby and Chris Webber echoed Adelman's sentiments.
"I don't know what it is," Bibby said when asked the cause of the team's struggles. "But we need to work on some stuff, and we'll be all right."
On the Kings' final third-quarter possession, Bibby rolled his right ankle when he stepped on the left foot of Nets guard Travis Best on his way to making an acrobatic driving shot. Bibby said the ankle was not a factor in the fourth quarter.
Webber said he, Mobley, Bibby and Stojakovic must get healthy before the season resumes Tuesday night against the visiting Atlanta Hawks.
"Those are not excuses," Webber said. "We just need everyone to take a rest and come back mentally and physically ready. I'm frustrated and don't take losing well. But we stayed together as a family, and we'll do that and come back ready." But Webber added, "If I'm saying these same things Tuesday, then we're in trouble."
i agree