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Arco game report: Kings' ride on seesaw continues unabated
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, April 4, 2005
Project Green Light/Red Light continues.
Inconsistency could be a feasible strategy for the Kings in a seven-game playoff series. Start with a win, then a loss, a win, a loss: hope for victory at the end, never mind the heartburn for all involved.
The Kings' stomachache has come early, though. Their 112-100 loss to a desperate Minnesota club Sunday afternoon restarted the discussion over which identity this team will retain.
"We're showing spurts of having a playoff team, then we have games like this, or (Wednesday's loss) against Detroit," guard Maurice Evans said. "We really need to establish the type of team we are heading into the playoffs. (Minnesota) played like a team with its back against the wall. We played like a team that knows it's in the playoffs."
Except that they're not. With seven games left, the Kings remain fifth in the Western Conference, but just 5 1/2 games ahead of ninth-place Minnesota. They have won three straight once since the Chris Webber trade.
The latest explanations
Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic, the former known as the team's clutch shooter and the latter as one of the world's finest marksmen, took only three shots each in Sunday's fourth quarter. It was the same number taken by Corliss Williamson. He missed all three in five fourth-quarter minutes and isn't known to carry comebacks.Center Brian Skinner, who has spent games past clogging the paint and limiting opponents' big men, was a non-factor as Kevin Garnett and Michael Olowokandi combined for a scorching 18 of 22 from the field and 45 points.
Forward Kenny Thomas is the up-and-down club's newest member. Two of his least-productive games have come in the last three games. He had 11 points Sunday, just nine at Detroit.
KG unplugged
Garnett is a self-described NBA fan, his knowledge reaching back to when the shorts didn't sag and the Kings weren't playoff regulars.
However thrilled he was to keep Minnesota's postseason pulse alive by beating the Kings, he said the new look in Sacramento is disappointing.
"It's very weird, Webb not being here and not seeing him and Bibby," Garnett said. "I think it's pretty sad, because you build legacies up on players and one-two punches. ... As a fan, I'm upset those two can't enlighten us on behind-the-backs and no-looks and the fun they (brought) here at Arco."
KING FOR A DAY
PEJA STOJAKOVIC
He showed rare signs of aggression on both ends of the court, corralling a loose ball, as well as sinking a few trademark jumpers. Stojakovic even blocked a shot.
SOUND BITE
"Kenny Thomas, Brian Skinner and Corliss Williamson, they're dirt workers. The other (Kings) are more finesse-y."
- Kevin McHale, Timberwolves coach on the Kings' new look
BIG NUMBER
11 -
Kings' losses at home, the most since the 1999-2000 season.
QUESTION POSED
WHEN MIGHT THE KINGS' ROLES BE MORE DEFINED?
No one could blame the Kings and all their new men for gathering maximum data before settling on vital decisions. But with seven regular-season games to go, the lines seem fuzzy when it comes to player specialties. Who's the No. 1 scoring option -Mike Bibby, Peja Stojakovic or Cuttino Mobley -and how can they get enough quality looks? Who yields and who guns come crunch time? Standing at the three-point line, Bibby was waved off by Mobley late in the game, negating a chance to hit another big shot. Coach Rick Adelman may have to exact the executive decision sometime soon.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12671845p-13525014c.html
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, April 4, 2005
Project Green Light/Red Light continues.
Inconsistency could be a feasible strategy for the Kings in a seven-game playoff series. Start with a win, then a loss, a win, a loss: hope for victory at the end, never mind the heartburn for all involved.
The Kings' stomachache has come early, though. Their 112-100 loss to a desperate Minnesota club Sunday afternoon restarted the discussion over which identity this team will retain.
"We're showing spurts of having a playoff team, then we have games like this, or (Wednesday's loss) against Detroit," guard Maurice Evans said. "We really need to establish the type of team we are heading into the playoffs. (Minnesota) played like a team with its back against the wall. We played like a team that knows it's in the playoffs."
Except that they're not. With seven games left, the Kings remain fifth in the Western Conference, but just 5 1/2 games ahead of ninth-place Minnesota. They have won three straight once since the Chris Webber trade.
The latest explanations
Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic, the former known as the team's clutch shooter and the latter as one of the world's finest marksmen, took only three shots each in Sunday's fourth quarter. It was the same number taken by Corliss Williamson. He missed all three in five fourth-quarter minutes and isn't known to carry comebacks.Center Brian Skinner, who has spent games past clogging the paint and limiting opponents' big men, was a non-factor as Kevin Garnett and Michael Olowokandi combined for a scorching 18 of 22 from the field and 45 points.
Forward Kenny Thomas is the up-and-down club's newest member. Two of his least-productive games have come in the last three games. He had 11 points Sunday, just nine at Detroit.
KG unplugged
Garnett is a self-described NBA fan, his knowledge reaching back to when the shorts didn't sag and the Kings weren't playoff regulars.
However thrilled he was to keep Minnesota's postseason pulse alive by beating the Kings, he said the new look in Sacramento is disappointing.
"It's very weird, Webb not being here and not seeing him and Bibby," Garnett said. "I think it's pretty sad, because you build legacies up on players and one-two punches. ... As a fan, I'm upset those two can't enlighten us on behind-the-backs and no-looks and the fun they (brought) here at Arco."
KING FOR A DAY
PEJA STOJAKOVIC
He showed rare signs of aggression on both ends of the court, corralling a loose ball, as well as sinking a few trademark jumpers. Stojakovic even blocked a shot.
SOUND BITE
"Kenny Thomas, Brian Skinner and Corliss Williamson, they're dirt workers. The other (Kings) are more finesse-y."
- Kevin McHale, Timberwolves coach on the Kings' new look
BIG NUMBER
11 -
Kings' losses at home, the most since the 1999-2000 season.
QUESTION POSED
WHEN MIGHT THE KINGS' ROLES BE MORE DEFINED?
No one could blame the Kings and all their new men for gathering maximum data before settling on vital decisions. But with seven regular-season games to go, the lines seem fuzzy when it comes to player specialties. Who's the No. 1 scoring option -Mike Bibby, Peja Stojakovic or Cuttino Mobley -and how can they get enough quality looks? Who yields and who guns come crunch time? Standing at the three-point line, Bibby was waved off by Mobley late in the game, negating a chance to hit another big shot. Coach Rick Adelman may have to exact the executive decision sometime soon.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12671845p-13525014c.html
but its starting to get old, its time to move on becuase hes not coming back....
