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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12425312p-13281648c.html
Analysis: Staggering Kings hit crucial stretch
They insist they still can be a title contender, but they will need to turn things around in a hurry.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Luckily for the Kings, the playoffs don't start tomorrow. They are 33-20 coming out of the All-Star break and know they have to get their act together before the playoffs. They have 29 regular-season games and 60 days remaining.
Based on how they've played of late, losing six of their last seven games, they'll need each game and day to work on improving.
"I think, No. 1, we've got to get some organization offensively so we know what we're doing," coach Rick Adelman said last week. "Hopefully, we'll be able to have a good practice Monday after the time off."
Because of the schedule and injuries, Adelman noted that the team has not been able to hold a full practice since Cuttino Mobley debuted in a Kings uniform Jan. 15.
That helps explain why many of the Kings' coaches and players said they think the NBA has yet to see the team at its best.
"We need to work on some stuff, and we'll be all right," Mike Bibby said.
The Kings said they still believe they can contend for a championship. That stance may seem silly, considering they are 3-7 so far in February and lately are having a ridiculously tough time beating mediocre teams.
But that's the NBA.
A year ago at this time, how many people were selling the Detroit Pistons as the 2004 NBA champions? Not many. And even die-hard Pistons fans didn't have much hope after their team lost at home to the New Jersey Nets and fell behind 3-2 in the second round of the playoffs.
Standing in fifth place in the Western Conference, the Kings said they believe their best basketball will be good enough to compete with the league's best.
With one of the season's most challenging stretches coming up, this might be a good time for the best to unveil itself, and sooner rather than later.
Sacramento will have to find a higher level and maintain it just to get into the playoffs, as Adelman has been reminding of late.
Among the remaining
regular-season games, the Kings face 16 teams that currently have a .500 or better record. So far, Sacramento is 13-15 against teams that are .500 or better. The Kings have yet to play the Orlando Magic and Detroit.
So just how do the Kings improve with the games and time they have left?
They already have one of the league's most complete offensive attacks, one that scores inside and outside, when they move the ball like they are capable.
Undoubtedly, a healthier Peja Stojakovic, who has been suffering from the flu and back and hamstring aches, will lift the offense. There were murmurs at the beginning of this season about the step or half-step Bobby Jackson has allegedly lost. These days, the Kings would welcome having that half-step come off the bench in combination with reserves Maurice Evans, Darius Songaila and Eddie House and/or a couple of the starters. Jackson, recovering from a torn left wrist ligament, is projected to return for the playoffs.
Of course, the Kings' best chances for success will occur after Mobley gets to practice with the entire starting unit. That should boost the offense even more.
Defensively, trouble continues. Sacramento's defense is one of the league's shakiest, allowing far too many deep penetrations. Bibby has excelled on offense despite a sore right ankle. But his on-ball defense needs to improve about as much as Brad Miller's temperament toward referees.
The Kings must become more precise and committed with their defensive rotations. They also will benefit when Adelman puts Greg Ostertag on the floor consistently - like the coach said he would - and allows the 7-foot-2 center's size to become a badly needed factor.
Ostertag's offensive limitations are clear and hard to watch, but he does block shots and foul people. There's no way his offensive game is any uglier - or more of a liability - than that layup drill invited by the Kings' matador defense in virtually every game.
And consider this: How can a team be so bad defensively and yet foul less than all but four teams?
Yo, foul a dude! Leave your man to do so. Trust your teammate will help just like you did. And should he fail to do so, jump him for it, whether he's the highest-paid player, Chris Webber, or rookie Kevin Martin. If they can't handle it, then winning is not the major priority and talk about making strides is just talk.
Granted, this team, especially the starting five, lacks quickness and athleticism. However, if the Kings became committed to preventing easy layups and dunks (which, by the way, is a staple of nearly every championship squad), that alone would go a long way toward defensive improvement.
Analysis: Staggering Kings hit crucial stretch
They insist they still can be a title contender, but they will need to turn things around in a hurry.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Luckily for the Kings, the playoffs don't start tomorrow. They are 33-20 coming out of the All-Star break and know they have to get their act together before the playoffs. They have 29 regular-season games and 60 days remaining.
Based on how they've played of late, losing six of their last seven games, they'll need each game and day to work on improving.
"I think, No. 1, we've got to get some organization offensively so we know what we're doing," coach Rick Adelman said last week. "Hopefully, we'll be able to have a good practice Monday after the time off."
Because of the schedule and injuries, Adelman noted that the team has not been able to hold a full practice since Cuttino Mobley debuted in a Kings uniform Jan. 15.
That helps explain why many of the Kings' coaches and players said they think the NBA has yet to see the team at its best.
"We need to work on some stuff, and we'll be all right," Mike Bibby said.
The Kings said they still believe they can contend for a championship. That stance may seem silly, considering they are 3-7 so far in February and lately are having a ridiculously tough time beating mediocre teams.
But that's the NBA.
A year ago at this time, how many people were selling the Detroit Pistons as the 2004 NBA champions? Not many. And even die-hard Pistons fans didn't have much hope after their team lost at home to the New Jersey Nets and fell behind 3-2 in the second round of the playoffs.
Standing in fifth place in the Western Conference, the Kings said they believe their best basketball will be good enough to compete with the league's best.
With one of the season's most challenging stretches coming up, this might be a good time for the best to unveil itself, and sooner rather than later.
Sacramento will have to find a higher level and maintain it just to get into the playoffs, as Adelman has been reminding of late.
Among the remaining
regular-season games, the Kings face 16 teams that currently have a .500 or better record. So far, Sacramento is 13-15 against teams that are .500 or better. The Kings have yet to play the Orlando Magic and Detroit.
So just how do the Kings improve with the games and time they have left?
They already have one of the league's most complete offensive attacks, one that scores inside and outside, when they move the ball like they are capable.
Undoubtedly, a healthier Peja Stojakovic, who has been suffering from the flu and back and hamstring aches, will lift the offense. There were murmurs at the beginning of this season about the step or half-step Bobby Jackson has allegedly lost. These days, the Kings would welcome having that half-step come off the bench in combination with reserves Maurice Evans, Darius Songaila and Eddie House and/or a couple of the starters. Jackson, recovering from a torn left wrist ligament, is projected to return for the playoffs.
Of course, the Kings' best chances for success will occur after Mobley gets to practice with the entire starting unit. That should boost the offense even more.
Defensively, trouble continues. Sacramento's defense is one of the league's shakiest, allowing far too many deep penetrations. Bibby has excelled on offense despite a sore right ankle. But his on-ball defense needs to improve about as much as Brad Miller's temperament toward referees.
The Kings must become more precise and committed with their defensive rotations. They also will benefit when Adelman puts Greg Ostertag on the floor consistently - like the coach said he would - and allows the 7-foot-2 center's size to become a badly needed factor.
Ostertag's offensive limitations are clear and hard to watch, but he does block shots and foul people. There's no way his offensive game is any uglier - or more of a liability - than that layup drill invited by the Kings' matador defense in virtually every game.
And consider this: How can a team be so bad defensively and yet foul less than all but four teams?
Yo, foul a dude! Leave your man to do so. Trust your teammate will help just like you did. And should he fail to do so, jump him for it, whether he's the highest-paid player, Chris Webber, or rookie Kevin Martin. If they can't handle it, then winning is not the major priority and talk about making strides is just talk.
Granted, this team, especially the starting five, lacks quickness and athleticism. However, if the Kings became committed to preventing easy layups and dunks (which, by the way, is a staple of nearly every championship squad), that alone would go a long way toward defensive improvement.
About the writer:
Kings (33-20) vs. Hawks (10-41)
The skinny
Site: Arco Arena
Tipoff: 7 p.m.
TV: CSN
Radio: KHTK 1140
Last meeting
Mike Bibby scored 31 points as the visiting Kings won 100-97 Jan. 7.
The lineups
Kings
Matt Barnes
Chris Webber
Brad Miller
Cuttino Mobley
Mike Bibby
Hawks
Josh Smith
Antoine Walker
Obinna Ekezie
Josh Childress
Boris Diaw
The magic number
15 - consecutive road losses by the Hawks.
- The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.
Kings (33-20) vs. Hawks (10-41)
The skinny
Site: Arco Arena
Tipoff: 7 p.m.
TV: CSN
Radio: KHTK 1140
Last meeting
Mike Bibby scored 31 points as the visiting Kings won 100-97 Jan. 7.
The lineups
Kings
Matt Barnes
Chris Webber
Brad Miller
Cuttino Mobley
Mike Bibby
Hawks
Josh Smith
Antoine Walker
Obinna Ekezie
Josh Childress
Boris Diaw
The magic number
15 - consecutive road losses by the Hawks.
