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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12274415p-13138484c.html
Adelman puts focus on offense
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, February 8, 2005
Because of injuries, Kings guard Cuttino Mobley has yet to practice with all five starters at the same time since his arrival from Orlando last month.
There may be disbelievers in NBA circles about the legitimacy of the Phoenix Suns, but don't include Kings coach Rick Adelman among them.
That's not just because the Pacific Division-leading Suns are in Arco Arena tonight to start a hellacious week for the Kings, who also play at Seattle on Thursday night and host Dallas on Friday night.
Adelman says the Suns are a great team, regardless whether they are on the road or at home.
"We're going to have to play at a high level against them and against the rest of the teams this week," said Adelman, whose practice Monday was almost at full strength. It lacked only Brad Miller and Mike Bibby, who have been logging heavy minutes recently while Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic and Cuttino Mobley nursed injuries.
"These three games this week will be a great barometer for the team to see where it is at and maybe for us to learn what it is we need to improve to get better," Adelman said. "I do know if we get back (on defense) the way we did in Portland, it's going to be a long night."
There were many times in the loss to the Trail Blazers when the Kings paid for some lazy defense by giving up uncontested baskets.
Phoenix comes in with the league's most potent offense (109.5 points per game), and its 20 road victories are a league high. The Kings are one of just four teams to win in Phoenix this season, but they also got a close-up look at the Suns' offense during a preseason blitzkrieg.
Sacramento will need to play intelligent, aggressive offense against the Suns, Adelman said.
"We beat them before by making them guard us," said Adelman, whose team won 113-111 Nov. 13 at America West Arena. "They don't care if they are playing on the road. They will hang around with you and then have one or two spurts where they'll score 10 or 12 points. We can't have a three-minute stretch where we can't score or they'll go on a 10-point run."
Then Adelman's voice trailed off.
"Or a 20-point run."
Adelman said Bibby (right ankle) and Miller (calf) should be fine tonight.
"They'd better be," he joked.
Mobley has not practiced with the entire starting five since joining the Kings on Jan. 10 with forward Michael Bradley in the trade with Orlando for guard Doug Christie.
"We've got to get some rhythm," Adelman said. "Cuttino pretty much has been playing on the fly. It's been tough for him because he doesn't know exactly where to go unless he has the ball. And when he has it, he doesn't know what everybody else is going to do."
Adelman said offense was the focus at Monday's practice because there is not much to do to simulate Phoenix's offense.
Webber said he knows what the Suns are going to do. [font=verdana,geneva,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"They are going to give the ball to Mighty Mouse," he said of point guard Steve Nash, who leads the league in assists, "and then let him dribble around and make a play. It's like when Jason (Williams) was here. That was the easiest scoring I ever had with him doing his thing."[/font]
Adelman puts focus on offense
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, February 8, 2005
Because of injuries, Kings guard Cuttino Mobley has yet to practice with all five starters at the same time since his arrival from Orlando last month.
There may be disbelievers in NBA circles about the legitimacy of the Phoenix Suns, but don't include Kings coach Rick Adelman among them.
That's not just because the Pacific Division-leading Suns are in Arco Arena tonight to start a hellacious week for the Kings, who also play at Seattle on Thursday night and host Dallas on Friday night.
Adelman says the Suns are a great team, regardless whether they are on the road or at home.
"We're going to have to play at a high level against them and against the rest of the teams this week," said Adelman, whose practice Monday was almost at full strength. It lacked only Brad Miller and Mike Bibby, who have been logging heavy minutes recently while Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic and Cuttino Mobley nursed injuries.
"These three games this week will be a great barometer for the team to see where it is at and maybe for us to learn what it is we need to improve to get better," Adelman said. "I do know if we get back (on defense) the way we did in Portland, it's going to be a long night."
There were many times in the loss to the Trail Blazers when the Kings paid for some lazy defense by giving up uncontested baskets.
Phoenix comes in with the league's most potent offense (109.5 points per game), and its 20 road victories are a league high. The Kings are one of just four teams to win in Phoenix this season, but they also got a close-up look at the Suns' offense during a preseason blitzkrieg.
Sacramento will need to play intelligent, aggressive offense against the Suns, Adelman said.
"We beat them before by making them guard us," said Adelman, whose team won 113-111 Nov. 13 at America West Arena. "They don't care if they are playing on the road. They will hang around with you and then have one or two spurts where they'll score 10 or 12 points. We can't have a three-minute stretch where we can't score or they'll go on a 10-point run."
Then Adelman's voice trailed off.
"Or a 20-point run."
Adelman said Bibby (right ankle) and Miller (calf) should be fine tonight.
"They'd better be," he joked.
Mobley has not practiced with the entire starting five since joining the Kings on Jan. 10 with forward Michael Bradley in the trade with Orlando for guard Doug Christie.
"We've got to get some rhythm," Adelman said. "Cuttino pretty much has been playing on the fly. It's been tough for him because he doesn't know exactly where to go unless he has the ball. And when he has it, he doesn't know what everybody else is going to do."
Adelman said offense was the focus at Monday's practice because there is not much to do to simulate Phoenix's offense.
Webber said he knows what the Suns are going to do. [font=verdana,geneva,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"They are going to give the ball to Mighty Mouse," he said of point guard Steve Nash, who leads the league in assists, "and then let him dribble around and make a play. It's like when Jason (Williams) was here. That was the easiest scoring I ever had with him doing his thing."[/font]
::coughwhatadisgracecough::
