http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/90092.html
A five-game slide has raised eyebrows, but there are still ... Great expectations
Playoffs remain a goal, despite the slow start
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Saturday, December 9, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
As guarantees go, this one was nothing compared to the original.
Ron Artest, who waited one week after his trade from Indiana last season to guarantee that an 18-26 Kings team would make the playoffs, is back at it again.
Speaking of backs, he says his is better than it has been in some time -- "75 to 80 percent" -- and ready to improve with a sputtering Kings squad that has lost five consecutive games. But the line that some will deem lunacy is the one about championships, that Artest believes the Kings remain contenders for the crown despite looking nothing short of mediocre of late.
"We're definitely going to make the playoffs, and we're definitely going to get past the first round this year because we already went to the first round last year," Artest said at the team's practice facility Friday. "It's boring doing things twice. We're playing for a championship this year, for a championship. We're not playing to get better this year, or for next year. We're playing to win it all."
The part about the playoffs is palatable. The Kings are just a game out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference with 64 games to play. The same prediction sounded silly last season, when Artest's prediction had been made as the Kings were 6-15 on the road and showing no signs of becoming the surging team they were in their stretch to the finish.
But as Kings coach Eric Musselman said, this is no time to fall back from the pack, with parity at perhaps an all-time high.
"The NBA this year is, at least in my young life, has as much parity as I've ever seen," Musselman said. "There are no bad teams, and it's tough getting wins this year."
Tougher still when injuries have so drastically altered consistency. With center Brad Miller back in the starting lineup for Thursday's loss against Miami, the unit of Mike Bibby, Kevin Martin, Artest, Kenny Thomas and Miller appears to be the chosen one from here.
"It's not an excuse," Musselman said of the injury list that included various absences by Bibby, Artest, Miller and John Salmons. "We're really disappointed that we've lost these five games, but it's part of the equation of kind of where we're at right now. We would really like to get stability back. ... It's not a situation where we're overjoyed with continual change. We think it will help everybody if we have a stable group."
The more focal point is the Kings must improve their first-quarter play, as they've created a trend of falling behind early before their frantic rally falls short in the final moments. While three of their past five losses have been by three points or less, the Kings have also been outscored in the first quarter by an average of 7.2 points in those games.
During the five-game span, the Kings have hit just 40.4 percent of their first-quarter shots (42 of 104), while opponents have hit 57.8 percent from the field (63 of 109).
The Kings haven't had a lead at the end of the first quarter since Nov. 25 against Portland, when their 34-26 edge translated into a 105-85 victory.
"Basically it's coming out ready from the jump, and not having to play catch up from the first quarter," Kings point guard Ronnie Price said. "We've been having our first-quarter lapse, and then solid basketball the next three quarters."
Beyond the boisterous talk, Artest said his best approach is one with less public conversation. He had already backtracked after venting in Dallas on Dec. 1, when he followed the blowout loss by questioning his role in the offense and the organization. And while he is a captain on the team, Artest said his leadership role may have to be different from the other two captains -- Bibby and Miller. While they were voted on by virtue of a player vote, Artest said Musselman made him the third captain.
"Mike and Brad being here the longest, they got voted captains," Artest said. "But it's just important that ... I kind of speak my mind and everything, but I probably won't speak it now too much. I've spoken it already. I think that's probably enough with what I said. Make sure everything else kind of stays in-house. Like I said, I'm a sore loser."
Making the past week all the more painful.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
A five-game slide has raised eyebrows, but there are still ... Great expectations
Playoffs remain a goal, despite the slow start
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Saturday, December 9, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
As guarantees go, this one was nothing compared to the original.
Ron Artest, who waited one week after his trade from Indiana last season to guarantee that an 18-26 Kings team would make the playoffs, is back at it again.
Speaking of backs, he says his is better than it has been in some time -- "75 to 80 percent" -- and ready to improve with a sputtering Kings squad that has lost five consecutive games. But the line that some will deem lunacy is the one about championships, that Artest believes the Kings remain contenders for the crown despite looking nothing short of mediocre of late.
"We're definitely going to make the playoffs, and we're definitely going to get past the first round this year because we already went to the first round last year," Artest said at the team's practice facility Friday. "It's boring doing things twice. We're playing for a championship this year, for a championship. We're not playing to get better this year, or for next year. We're playing to win it all."
The part about the playoffs is palatable. The Kings are just a game out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference with 64 games to play. The same prediction sounded silly last season, when Artest's prediction had been made as the Kings were 6-15 on the road and showing no signs of becoming the surging team they were in their stretch to the finish.
But as Kings coach Eric Musselman said, this is no time to fall back from the pack, with parity at perhaps an all-time high.
"The NBA this year is, at least in my young life, has as much parity as I've ever seen," Musselman said. "There are no bad teams, and it's tough getting wins this year."
Tougher still when injuries have so drastically altered consistency. With center Brad Miller back in the starting lineup for Thursday's loss against Miami, the unit of Mike Bibby, Kevin Martin, Artest, Kenny Thomas and Miller appears to be the chosen one from here.
"It's not an excuse," Musselman said of the injury list that included various absences by Bibby, Artest, Miller and John Salmons. "We're really disappointed that we've lost these five games, but it's part of the equation of kind of where we're at right now. We would really like to get stability back. ... It's not a situation where we're overjoyed with continual change. We think it will help everybody if we have a stable group."
The more focal point is the Kings must improve their first-quarter play, as they've created a trend of falling behind early before their frantic rally falls short in the final moments. While three of their past five losses have been by three points or less, the Kings have also been outscored in the first quarter by an average of 7.2 points in those games.
During the five-game span, the Kings have hit just 40.4 percent of their first-quarter shots (42 of 104), while opponents have hit 57.8 percent from the field (63 of 109).
The Kings haven't had a lead at the end of the first quarter since Nov. 25 against Portland, when their 34-26 edge translated into a 105-85 victory.
"Basically it's coming out ready from the jump, and not having to play catch up from the first quarter," Kings point guard Ronnie Price said. "We've been having our first-quarter lapse, and then solid basketball the next three quarters."
Beyond the boisterous talk, Artest said his best approach is one with less public conversation. He had already backtracked after venting in Dallas on Dec. 1, when he followed the blowout loss by questioning his role in the offense and the organization. And while he is a captain on the team, Artest said his leadership role may have to be different from the other two captains -- Bibby and Miller. While they were voted on by virtue of a player vote, Artest said Musselman made him the third captain.
"Mike and Brad being here the longest, they got voted captains," Artest said. "But it's just important that ... I kind of speak my mind and everything, but I probably won't speak it now too much. I've spoken it already. I think that's probably enough with what I said. Make sure everything else kind of stays in-house. Like I said, I'm a sore loser."
Making the past week all the more painful.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
