http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/94916.html
A cold reality
Frustrated Kings lose to Mavs
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:25 am PST Tuesday, December 19, 2006
John Salmons sat at his locker in one corner, his shirt half off and his smile all the way gone.
This was, he said in hushed tones after the Kings' 109-91 loss to Dallas on Monday night at Arco Arena, as bad as it gets.
"Frustration," the Kings swingman said when asked what was going through his mind. "We're losing these games. I can't get used to losing. We've done hit rock bottom."
Except that, as Salmons noted a moment later, ugliness can always get uglier.
"I mean, I guess it's not rock bottom," he said. "I know the guys want to win. We've got the desire. We've just got to bring that desire out and get it done."
Salmons had plenty of time to contemplate the loss, and plenty of people to listen in a locker room that was empty of any of the team's core players. Ron Artest, Mike Bibby and Brad Miller were gone before anyone could ask them about the Kings' eighth loss in 10 games.
Kevin Martin had an excuse for being a no-show, having sat out with his sprained right ankle because he was unable to run or jump without pain. He's not so different than the team itself: unable to get off the ground and plenty tired of the hurtin'.
"We've got to do something," Francisco García said. "I don't know what it is, but we've got to do something."
The majority of Kings fans didn't head for the exits until late in the fourth quarter, when a Dirk Nowitzki 19-footer put Dallas up 99-77. If not for the high sticker price, they might have considered heading home after the first quarter, when the Mavericks hit 14 of 19 shots (73.7 percent) to the Kings' 25 percent (6 of 24) and led 33-18.
Josh Howard and Bibby set the respective tones for their clubs, with Howard hitting nine of his first 10 shots and Bibby missing 10 of his first 11.
After a short reprieve from sluggish starts, the Kings' propensity for early deficits returned. They had solved the problem for two games, tying Utah on its home floor Friday and leading Phoenix 29-19 after one quarter a day later.
But this time, the effort or accuracy didn't come until the third quarter, when the Kings trimmed their 54-40 halftime deficit to single digits on six occasions. The Mavericks' lead never fell lower than six points, though, and a Jason Terry three-pointer finished their 7-2 run at the end of the third quarter to push it back to 11.
The only thing different about the Mavericks' dominating effort this time was the location. Dec. 1, they led the Kings 38-19 after one quarter at American Airlines Arena in what became a 109-90 victory.
There was, however, ticket value in watching Dirk Nowitzki, Howard and Terry go to work. The trio combined for 79 points on 31-for-47 shooting, and Nowitzki grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds and kept the Kings from leading at home for the first time this season. The Kings also fell to 7-6 at home.
"You've got to give it up to those three guys," Kings coach Eric Musselman said in his unwanted routine of complimenting yet another victorious foe. "They had great games. When you look at their shooting percentages -- 12 for 16, 12 for 17 and 7 of 14 -- that's difficult."
As difficult as guarding them. Much of Howard's and Nowitzki's production came with Artest defending. And with Martin out, Salmons started and shot just 2 for 8 for seven points with one assist. Bibby finished with 10 points on 3-for-12 shooting.
"It is what it is," said forward Kenny Thomas, who had 15 points and 15 rebounds. "Our effort wasn't there, and Dallas is a good team. We just need to come out and play hard from the start."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
A cold reality
Frustrated Kings lose to Mavs
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:25 am PST Tuesday, December 19, 2006
John Salmons sat at his locker in one corner, his shirt half off and his smile all the way gone.
This was, he said in hushed tones after the Kings' 109-91 loss to Dallas on Monday night at Arco Arena, as bad as it gets.
"Frustration," the Kings swingman said when asked what was going through his mind. "We're losing these games. I can't get used to losing. We've done hit rock bottom."
Except that, as Salmons noted a moment later, ugliness can always get uglier.
"I mean, I guess it's not rock bottom," he said. "I know the guys want to win. We've got the desire. We've just got to bring that desire out and get it done."
Salmons had plenty of time to contemplate the loss, and plenty of people to listen in a locker room that was empty of any of the team's core players. Ron Artest, Mike Bibby and Brad Miller were gone before anyone could ask them about the Kings' eighth loss in 10 games.
Kevin Martin had an excuse for being a no-show, having sat out with his sprained right ankle because he was unable to run or jump without pain. He's not so different than the team itself: unable to get off the ground and plenty tired of the hurtin'.
"We've got to do something," Francisco García said. "I don't know what it is, but we've got to do something."
The majority of Kings fans didn't head for the exits until late in the fourth quarter, when a Dirk Nowitzki 19-footer put Dallas up 99-77. If not for the high sticker price, they might have considered heading home after the first quarter, when the Mavericks hit 14 of 19 shots (73.7 percent) to the Kings' 25 percent (6 of 24) and led 33-18.
Josh Howard and Bibby set the respective tones for their clubs, with Howard hitting nine of his first 10 shots and Bibby missing 10 of his first 11.
After a short reprieve from sluggish starts, the Kings' propensity for early deficits returned. They had solved the problem for two games, tying Utah on its home floor Friday and leading Phoenix 29-19 after one quarter a day later.
But this time, the effort or accuracy didn't come until the third quarter, when the Kings trimmed their 54-40 halftime deficit to single digits on six occasions. The Mavericks' lead never fell lower than six points, though, and a Jason Terry three-pointer finished their 7-2 run at the end of the third quarter to push it back to 11.
The only thing different about the Mavericks' dominating effort this time was the location. Dec. 1, they led the Kings 38-19 after one quarter at American Airlines Arena in what became a 109-90 victory.
There was, however, ticket value in watching Dirk Nowitzki, Howard and Terry go to work. The trio combined for 79 points on 31-for-47 shooting, and Nowitzki grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds and kept the Kings from leading at home for the first time this season. The Kings also fell to 7-6 at home.
"You've got to give it up to those three guys," Kings coach Eric Musselman said in his unwanted routine of complimenting yet another victorious foe. "They had great games. When you look at their shooting percentages -- 12 for 16, 12 for 17 and 7 of 14 -- that's difficult."
As difficult as guarding them. Much of Howard's and Nowitzki's production came with Artest defending. And with Martin out, Salmons started and shot just 2 for 8 for seven points with one assist. Bibby finished with 10 points on 3-for-12 shooting.
"It is what it is," said forward Kenny Thomas, who had 15 points and 15 rebounds. "Our effort wasn't there, and Dallas is a good team. We just need to come out and play hard from the start."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
