http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14233954p-15055657c.html
Early hole is too much
Kings trail by 16 in first quarter; playoff margin is half-game
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, March 23, 2006
LOS ANGELES - The game tape was running, but no one was watching.
In a Lakers locker room filled with players, coaches and media, idle chatter took precedence over watching the March 14 game against the Kings that was featured on the big-screen television Wednesday.
The Lakers already had studied their 114-98 loss plenty, when coach Phil Jackson dragged them to the practice facility Tuesday for a film session. By doing so, he had made a rare demand, as his team had played games on back-to-back days.
Not this time, though. And the extra time, judging by the Lakers' 87-80 win at Staples Center, was time well spent.
The point of concern, Jackson had told his players, was their defense. So they proceeded to put the Kings in a 16-point, first-quarter hole, forcing eight misses in the Kings' first nine shots in what coach Rick Adelman said was more about his players missing wide-open looks than any Lakers aggression. Still, the Kings trailed 30-14 after one quarter, were down by 13 at halftime and 14 after three quarters before cutting the lead to five points late and - unlike the Lakers - running out of time.
"You've got to look at that score and feel good about it," Jackson said.
Unless you're the Kings, who sit in eighth place in the Western Conference standings and are just a half-game ahead of ninth-place New Orleans. After winning four of five road games on their early March trip, the Kings have dropped their past three, dropping their road record to 11-23.
Their latest road defeat was finalized, in part, by Kobe Bryant, who had an efficient 28 points (on 11-of-20 shooting) but wasn't spectacular until the final minute. After a Brad Miller dunk cut the Lakers' lead to 85-80 with 1:02 remaining, Bryant - who had been infuriated when whistled for an offensive foul on Ron Artest moments before - rose over Artest in the left corner, his jumper slicing through the net.
"He's awesome," said Artest, who didn't garner the same praise after he had seven turnovers to go with 18 points and 10 rebounds. "He hit that last shot, and I was like, 'Damn,' but then I was like, 'That's Kobe.' "
Artest's son was even more in awe. After some had noticed Bryant and Artest didn't shake hands beforehand, the mutual respect was apparent afterward, when Artest ran down a hall to catch Bryant. Artest's son, 4-year-old Jeron, desperately wanted a picture with Bryant, who happily obliged.
But the Lakers offered no courtesies between the lines, especially to point guard Mike Bibby.
Save for the latest meeting, Bibby has made a habit of torching the Lakers. His 40 points against them Jan. 19 was the only time this season Los Angeles had allowed 40 or more points to an opponent. In three games against them this season, he had averaged 31.3 points.
But Bibby - who left without talking to the media - finished with just 10 points, his outing a frustrating one in so many ways. Early in the third quarter, Bibby was hit in the right shin by a Laker's limb, going to the bench for a short time and playing through it thereafter. Smush Parker and Sasha Vujacic were irritants all night, too, holding Bibby to 3-of-12 shooting.
"If they take Mike away, then somebody else has to be open, something else has to be there," Adelman said. "We've got to take it that extra step, and right now we're not doing it."
Allowing a season-high 21 points to Kwame Brown is never a good idea, either.
The Lakers center cleaned up the messes in the paint, hitting 8 of 12 shots and grabbing 12 rebounds.
Bibby wasn't the only Kings player bruised. Shooting guard Kevin Martin, who was 2 of 5 in just 14 minutes, took a knee to the inner thigh on his right leg in the first quarter, the injury eventually forcing him from the game.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Early hole is too much
Kings trail by 16 in first quarter; playoff margin is half-game
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, March 23, 2006
LOS ANGELES - The game tape was running, but no one was watching.
In a Lakers locker room filled with players, coaches and media, idle chatter took precedence over watching the March 14 game against the Kings that was featured on the big-screen television Wednesday.
The Lakers already had studied their 114-98 loss plenty, when coach Phil Jackson dragged them to the practice facility Tuesday for a film session. By doing so, he had made a rare demand, as his team had played games on back-to-back days.
Not this time, though. And the extra time, judging by the Lakers' 87-80 win at Staples Center, was time well spent.
The point of concern, Jackson had told his players, was their defense. So they proceeded to put the Kings in a 16-point, first-quarter hole, forcing eight misses in the Kings' first nine shots in what coach Rick Adelman said was more about his players missing wide-open looks than any Lakers aggression. Still, the Kings trailed 30-14 after one quarter, were down by 13 at halftime and 14 after three quarters before cutting the lead to five points late and - unlike the Lakers - running out of time.
"You've got to look at that score and feel good about it," Jackson said.
Unless you're the Kings, who sit in eighth place in the Western Conference standings and are just a half-game ahead of ninth-place New Orleans. After winning four of five road games on their early March trip, the Kings have dropped their past three, dropping their road record to 11-23.
Their latest road defeat was finalized, in part, by Kobe Bryant, who had an efficient 28 points (on 11-of-20 shooting) but wasn't spectacular until the final minute. After a Brad Miller dunk cut the Lakers' lead to 85-80 with 1:02 remaining, Bryant - who had been infuriated when whistled for an offensive foul on Ron Artest moments before - rose over Artest in the left corner, his jumper slicing through the net.
"He's awesome," said Artest, who didn't garner the same praise after he had seven turnovers to go with 18 points and 10 rebounds. "He hit that last shot, and I was like, 'Damn,' but then I was like, 'That's Kobe.' "
Artest's son was even more in awe. After some had noticed Bryant and Artest didn't shake hands beforehand, the mutual respect was apparent afterward, when Artest ran down a hall to catch Bryant. Artest's son, 4-year-old Jeron, desperately wanted a picture with Bryant, who happily obliged.
But the Lakers offered no courtesies between the lines, especially to point guard Mike Bibby.
Save for the latest meeting, Bibby has made a habit of torching the Lakers. His 40 points against them Jan. 19 was the only time this season Los Angeles had allowed 40 or more points to an opponent. In three games against them this season, he had averaged 31.3 points.
But Bibby - who left without talking to the media - finished with just 10 points, his outing a frustrating one in so many ways. Early in the third quarter, Bibby was hit in the right shin by a Laker's limb, going to the bench for a short time and playing through it thereafter. Smush Parker and Sasha Vujacic were irritants all night, too, holding Bibby to 3-of-12 shooting.
"If they take Mike away, then somebody else has to be open, something else has to be there," Adelman said. "We've got to take it that extra step, and right now we're not doing it."
Allowing a season-high 21 points to Kwame Brown is never a good idea, either.
The Lakers center cleaned up the messes in the paint, hitting 8 of 12 shots and grabbing 12 rebounds.
Bibby wasn't the only Kings player bruised. Shooting guard Kevin Martin, who was 2 of 5 in just 14 minutes, took a knee to the inner thigh on his right leg in the first quarter, the injury eventually forcing him from the game.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
