http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/151747.html
Kings foul things up
As their free-throw chances disappear, so do their hopes against the Rockets.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, April 9, 2007
With his team's lead gone and a once-vibrant Arco Arena crowd reverting to restless Sunday night, Eric Musselman was looking for an explanation.
How, the Kings' coach asked an official during the fourth quarter of a 112-106 loss to Houston, does a team that was practically earning squatter's rights at the free-throw line in the first half find itself ostracized from that location in the second half?
The response came quickly and accurately: "Jumpers."
As in 11 jumpers to start the fourth quarter before a shot in the paint was taken, with seven misses and more to come after the opposite plan had worked so well. The Kings' 57-50 halftime lead was earned largely through a more aggressive style -- drives and flops and fakes that put them at the free-throw line 25 times and resulted in 21 points.
The second half? Four free throws, while the Rockets stole the Kings' script and attempted 25 of their 34 free throws after halftime and converted 28 in all.
"It was a tale of two halves as far as free throws attempted," Musselman said. "(But) we took 31 (three-pointers) tonight, so we're not putting it on the refs or anything at all."
Shooting guard Kevin Martin hit 6 of 7 from the line and broke Otis Thorpe's Sacramento-era Kings record for a season (460), as he now stands 461 of 547. But Houston's Tracy McGrady was -- as was the case all night -- even better. He hit 9 of 12 free throws, part of a 40-point, 10-assist, eight-rebound performance.
McGrady's teammate, Modesto Christian product Chuck Hayes, half-jokingly said recently that McGrady and Rockets center Yao Ming were "100 percent of our offense," and the underlying message was true again. Yao had 18 points, as the duo posed matchup problems the Kings thought they might have been able to avoid.
Only one of Houston's terrifying twosome, McGrady, had practiced the day before, and both were suffering from the sort of back problems that had caused recent absences and surely would prompt coach Jeff Van Gundy to rest them for the playoffs.
But the Kings' wish was not Van Gundy's command, and their game plan did little to slow the pair. McGrady had 14 third-quarter points as the Rockets erased a seven-point deficit to lead 81-80. Yao had 11 points in his first eight minutes.
The trademark finger-wagging of Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo was nowhere to be found as he rested in the fourth quarter, but Kings swingman Francisco García came up with his own version.
Just seconds into the fourth quarter, García hit a three-pointer to give the Kings an 83-81 lead, then waved three fingers near his hip in gunslinger fashion. He was on the mark again from long distance with 9:54 to play, bringing the Kings within 87-86. García sank another three at the 8:01 mark, tying it 89-89.
But Rockets reserve Luther Head matched the act. He hit back-to-back threes midway through the fourth to put Houston ahead 95-91, and Rafer Alston made another as the Rockets went on an 11-2 run to go ahead 100-91 with 4:42 remaining and never gave up the lead.
The loss put the Kings within virtual millimeters of mathematical playoff elimination. A Los Angeles Clippers victory tonight at Dallas or a Kings loss Tuesday at Memphis brings the official end.
"It's going to be a long summer, a disappointing summer, (because of) the fact that we're going into the summer like (this)," forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim said. "But we just have to keep pushing to finish the season out and try to get better these last few games."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
Kings foul things up
As their free-throw chances disappear, so do their hopes against the Rockets.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, April 9, 2007
With his team's lead gone and a once-vibrant Arco Arena crowd reverting to restless Sunday night, Eric Musselman was looking for an explanation.
How, the Kings' coach asked an official during the fourth quarter of a 112-106 loss to Houston, does a team that was practically earning squatter's rights at the free-throw line in the first half find itself ostracized from that location in the second half?
The response came quickly and accurately: "Jumpers."
As in 11 jumpers to start the fourth quarter before a shot in the paint was taken, with seven misses and more to come after the opposite plan had worked so well. The Kings' 57-50 halftime lead was earned largely through a more aggressive style -- drives and flops and fakes that put them at the free-throw line 25 times and resulted in 21 points.
The second half? Four free throws, while the Rockets stole the Kings' script and attempted 25 of their 34 free throws after halftime and converted 28 in all.
"It was a tale of two halves as far as free throws attempted," Musselman said. "(But) we took 31 (three-pointers) tonight, so we're not putting it on the refs or anything at all."
Shooting guard Kevin Martin hit 6 of 7 from the line and broke Otis Thorpe's Sacramento-era Kings record for a season (460), as he now stands 461 of 547. But Houston's Tracy McGrady was -- as was the case all night -- even better. He hit 9 of 12 free throws, part of a 40-point, 10-assist, eight-rebound performance.
McGrady's teammate, Modesto Christian product Chuck Hayes, half-jokingly said recently that McGrady and Rockets center Yao Ming were "100 percent of our offense," and the underlying message was true again. Yao had 18 points, as the duo posed matchup problems the Kings thought they might have been able to avoid.
Only one of Houston's terrifying twosome, McGrady, had practiced the day before, and both were suffering from the sort of back problems that had caused recent absences and surely would prompt coach Jeff Van Gundy to rest them for the playoffs.
But the Kings' wish was not Van Gundy's command, and their game plan did little to slow the pair. McGrady had 14 third-quarter points as the Rockets erased a seven-point deficit to lead 81-80. Yao had 11 points in his first eight minutes.
The trademark finger-wagging of Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo was nowhere to be found as he rested in the fourth quarter, but Kings swingman Francisco García came up with his own version.
Just seconds into the fourth quarter, García hit a three-pointer to give the Kings an 83-81 lead, then waved three fingers near his hip in gunslinger fashion. He was on the mark again from long distance with 9:54 to play, bringing the Kings within 87-86. García sank another three at the 8:01 mark, tying it 89-89.
But Rockets reserve Luther Head matched the act. He hit back-to-back threes midway through the fourth to put Houston ahead 95-91, and Rafer Alston made another as the Rockets went on an 11-2 run to go ahead 100-91 with 4:42 remaining and never gave up the lead.
The loss put the Kings within virtual millimeters of mathematical playoff elimination. A Los Angeles Clippers victory tonight at Dallas or a Kings loss Tuesday at Memphis brings the official end.
"It's going to be a long summer, a disappointing summer, (because of) the fact that we're going into the summer like (this)," forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim said. "But we just have to keep pushing to finish the season out and try to get better these last few games."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
