http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/109726.html
Kings cave in again
Their flat play to begin the fourth quarter leads to another loss -- their seventh consecutive.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:37 am PST Thursday, January 18, 2007
TORONTO -- It wasn't just one play this time, or one mental mistake or one game-winning shot by the latest opponent.
It was one stretch, six minutes of defenseless play that negated the previous three quarters and gave the Kings their seventh consecutive loss 101-85 at the Air Canada Center on Wednesday night.
As the Kings dropped to 0-2 on this four-game road trip and matched their last seven-game losing streak that finished the 1997-98 season, the fourth quarter of the latest defeat was staggering. The Kings had held a potent Raptors offense to 40 percent shooting through 36 minutes and led 69-68, only to allow a 21-8 run in which Toronto hit 9 of 12 shots and the Kings missed 7 of 10 and watched a one-point lead turn into a 12-point deficit.
What had been a game with 14 lead changes became the continuation of a month-long Raptors party, as they have won six of their last eight and are first in the Atlantic Division at 19-21. For Spaniards José Calderon and Jorge Garbajosa, it was their own personal fourth-quarter fiesta.
Running the point, Calderon had four of his nine assists in the final period and scored six of his 11 points as Toronto closed the game 33-16. Garbajosa had nine of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, including two three-pointers. By the end, Toronto had hit 13 of its final 17 shots and its shooting percentage had grown to 47.6 percent. For Toronto, it was a well-timed complement to an effort that had been dominated by forward Chris Bosh (20 points, nine rebounds) and reserve guard Morris Peterson (22 points).
"I just thought that in the fourth quarter, defensively and offensively and rebounding and passing the ball was probably as good as we can play," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. "Our defense just seemed like it was getting better and better."
The Kings couldn't say the same about their defense or offense. Kevin Martin was just 1 of 5 in the fourth quarter, finishing with 18 points on 4-of-13 shooting. Brad Miller returned after a two-game absence (personal reasons) but remained missing after scoring two points in 34 minutes. He might have experienced a bit of déjà vu in the fourth quarter, when the Raptors ran pick and rolls the Kings couldn't stop just as the Team USA that Miller played on last summer dealt with the same maddening problem.
"They were killing us with one play," said Kings point guard Mike Bibby, who had 21 points on 7-for-17 shooting.
The Kings, meanwhile, are trying their best to keep the losing streak from killing them.
"The biggest thing is just staying together," said swingman John Salmons, who was at times booed by the fans who thought he would play for the Raptors this season before he reneged on the signing last offseason. "Nobody's pointing fingers or anything like that."
The losses, it seems, are clearly starting to blend together for the Kings. Martin called it an eight-game losing streak before being corrected, and Ron Artest and Shareef Abdur-Rahim couldn't recall the score after three quarters as they struggled to analyze another defeat.
"It's not (easy)," Artest said. "It's not at all. In my younger days, I would've exploded at this time. But just going through the league a couple years, you go through losses. And at the end of the season, you're like, Man, I was mad because we lost and then look what happened after that. So there's really no need to get too panicked."
There was a need, however, for a more formidable finish.
"They got hot at the right time," Kings coach Eric Musselman said of Toronto. "They outplayed us in the fourth quarter, and the only way I know how to get through this thing is to continue to work, try to make progress throughout this losing streak."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
Kings cave in again
Their flat play to begin the fourth quarter leads to another loss -- their seventh consecutive.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:37 am PST Thursday, January 18, 2007
TORONTO -- It wasn't just one play this time, or one mental mistake or one game-winning shot by the latest opponent.
It was one stretch, six minutes of defenseless play that negated the previous three quarters and gave the Kings their seventh consecutive loss 101-85 at the Air Canada Center on Wednesday night.
As the Kings dropped to 0-2 on this four-game road trip and matched their last seven-game losing streak that finished the 1997-98 season, the fourth quarter of the latest defeat was staggering. The Kings had held a potent Raptors offense to 40 percent shooting through 36 minutes and led 69-68, only to allow a 21-8 run in which Toronto hit 9 of 12 shots and the Kings missed 7 of 10 and watched a one-point lead turn into a 12-point deficit.
What had been a game with 14 lead changes became the continuation of a month-long Raptors party, as they have won six of their last eight and are first in the Atlantic Division at 19-21. For Spaniards José Calderon and Jorge Garbajosa, it was their own personal fourth-quarter fiesta.
Running the point, Calderon had four of his nine assists in the final period and scored six of his 11 points as Toronto closed the game 33-16. Garbajosa had nine of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, including two three-pointers. By the end, Toronto had hit 13 of its final 17 shots and its shooting percentage had grown to 47.6 percent. For Toronto, it was a well-timed complement to an effort that had been dominated by forward Chris Bosh (20 points, nine rebounds) and reserve guard Morris Peterson (22 points).
"I just thought that in the fourth quarter, defensively and offensively and rebounding and passing the ball was probably as good as we can play," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. "Our defense just seemed like it was getting better and better."
The Kings couldn't say the same about their defense or offense. Kevin Martin was just 1 of 5 in the fourth quarter, finishing with 18 points on 4-of-13 shooting. Brad Miller returned after a two-game absence (personal reasons) but remained missing after scoring two points in 34 minutes. He might have experienced a bit of déjà vu in the fourth quarter, when the Raptors ran pick and rolls the Kings couldn't stop just as the Team USA that Miller played on last summer dealt with the same maddening problem.
"They were killing us with one play," said Kings point guard Mike Bibby, who had 21 points on 7-for-17 shooting.
The Kings, meanwhile, are trying their best to keep the losing streak from killing them.
"The biggest thing is just staying together," said swingman John Salmons, who was at times booed by the fans who thought he would play for the Raptors this season before he reneged on the signing last offseason. "Nobody's pointing fingers or anything like that."
The losses, it seems, are clearly starting to blend together for the Kings. Martin called it an eight-game losing streak before being corrected, and Ron Artest and Shareef Abdur-Rahim couldn't recall the score after three quarters as they struggled to analyze another defeat.
"It's not (easy)," Artest said. "It's not at all. In my younger days, I would've exploded at this time. But just going through the league a couple years, you go through losses. And at the end of the season, you're like, Man, I was mad because we lost and then look what happened after that. So there's really no need to get too panicked."
There was a need, however, for a more formidable finish.
"They got hot at the right time," Kings coach Eric Musselman said of Toronto. "They outplayed us in the fourth quarter, and the only way I know how to get through this thing is to continue to work, try to make progress throughout this losing streak."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
v