http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14241355p-15060866c.html
Kings grind way to victory
Sacramento remains tied with the Lakers
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, April 10, 2006
There was nothing magical about the win.
For much of the night, the Kings missed chances to put away a Houston team that should be considered subpar by comparison, leading by 14 points in the third quarter before relying on the opening act - that being Brad Miller - to close out things in the fourth quarter of their 86-77 victory.
But magic wasn't needed to knock another digit off the Kings' magic number to make the playoffs. It fell to three Sunday night at Arco Arena while they stayed tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for seventh place in the Western Conference.
Miller finished with 30 points on 10-for-18 shooting, hitting 2 of 4 three-pointers and reaching the 30-plus-point mark for just the second time this season while grabbing 11 rebounds.
It was all part of the plan to tire Rockets center Yao Ming. It worked, as Yao scored just seven of his 19 points in the first half and expended most of his energy chasing Miller while logging 35 minutes.
"That's kind of been the game plan (against Yao) because he's not a guy who goes out there and plays 40 minutes in a game," Miller said. "It's a game where you've really got to tire him down. The best offense and best defense is to get him sitting on the bench, make him work on both ends."
In between, Mike Bibby had yet another big outing, scoring 23 points and hitting 5 of 10 three-pointers. After Houston drew within 69-65 midway through the fourth quarter, Bibby's three-pointer, his first make of the second half, began a 17-6 run that defused the Rockets.
With six Kings victories in seven games and all signs pointing to a playoff berth, coach Rick Adelman said the postseason mentality wasn't all there.
"It's a matter of not only what you're doing now, but you're really preparing for the playoffs," Adelman said. "This is a time when you have to keep your concentration and every game is crucial. You want to clinch a playoff berth as soon as you can. You don't want to wait until the last weekend. We don't want to relax because you never know what could happen."
The Rockets were playing three-on-five in the first half, when their backcourt of Rafer Alston and Luther Head went a combined 0 for 10 from the field. Meanwhile, the Kings jumped ahead by sinking eight of their first 12 shots.
After missing an early jump shot, Miller - who so often shies away from shooting after a miss - scored eight straight points, six as he drove to the paint. The Rockets recovered, finishing the quarter on a 14-4 run to trail 20-16 entering the second.
The Head-Alston shutout finally was broken with 6:01 left in the third quarter, when Head hit a reverse layup. Less than five minutes later, Head had scored 10 points in Houston's 14-8 run that cut the lead to 61-59.
"We didn't move (the ball), especially in the third quarter," Adelman said. "It was one pass, one dribble, shot - no activity at all. That's what will happen when you play a team like that. They're a team that can get you lulled into their pace."
The sellout crowd nearly was lulled to sleep until late in the second quarter, when the Kings were up by 16 and a wrestling match between Kenny Thomas and Juwan Howard awoke the masses. Both were assessed technicals, followed by one for Alston and one for the normally placid Yao in the third quarter.
The frustration, as far as the Kings were concerned, quickly dissipated.
"We're in charge of everything that we do," Bibby said. "And if we keep winning, there's nothing anybody can do."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Kings grind way to victory
Sacramento remains tied with the Lakers
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, April 10, 2006
There was nothing magical about the win.
For much of the night, the Kings missed chances to put away a Houston team that should be considered subpar by comparison, leading by 14 points in the third quarter before relying on the opening act - that being Brad Miller - to close out things in the fourth quarter of their 86-77 victory.
But magic wasn't needed to knock another digit off the Kings' magic number to make the playoffs. It fell to three Sunday night at Arco Arena while they stayed tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for seventh place in the Western Conference.
Miller finished with 30 points on 10-for-18 shooting, hitting 2 of 4 three-pointers and reaching the 30-plus-point mark for just the second time this season while grabbing 11 rebounds.
It was all part of the plan to tire Rockets center Yao Ming. It worked, as Yao scored just seven of his 19 points in the first half and expended most of his energy chasing Miller while logging 35 minutes.
"That's kind of been the game plan (against Yao) because he's not a guy who goes out there and plays 40 minutes in a game," Miller said. "It's a game where you've really got to tire him down. The best offense and best defense is to get him sitting on the bench, make him work on both ends."
In between, Mike Bibby had yet another big outing, scoring 23 points and hitting 5 of 10 three-pointers. After Houston drew within 69-65 midway through the fourth quarter, Bibby's three-pointer, his first make of the second half, began a 17-6 run that defused the Rockets.
With six Kings victories in seven games and all signs pointing to a playoff berth, coach Rick Adelman said the postseason mentality wasn't all there.
"It's a matter of not only what you're doing now, but you're really preparing for the playoffs," Adelman said. "This is a time when you have to keep your concentration and every game is crucial. You want to clinch a playoff berth as soon as you can. You don't want to wait until the last weekend. We don't want to relax because you never know what could happen."
The Rockets were playing three-on-five in the first half, when their backcourt of Rafer Alston and Luther Head went a combined 0 for 10 from the field. Meanwhile, the Kings jumped ahead by sinking eight of their first 12 shots.
After missing an early jump shot, Miller - who so often shies away from shooting after a miss - scored eight straight points, six as he drove to the paint. The Rockets recovered, finishing the quarter on a 14-4 run to trail 20-16 entering the second.
The Head-Alston shutout finally was broken with 6:01 left in the third quarter, when Head hit a reverse layup. Less than five minutes later, Head had scored 10 points in Houston's 14-8 run that cut the lead to 61-59.
"We didn't move (the ball), especially in the third quarter," Adelman said. "It was one pass, one dribble, shot - no activity at all. That's what will happen when you play a team like that. They're a team that can get you lulled into their pace."
The sellout crowd nearly was lulled to sleep until late in the second quarter, when the Kings were up by 16 and a wrestling match between Kenny Thomas and Juwan Howard awoke the masses. Both were assessed technicals, followed by one for Alston and one for the normally placid Yao in the third quarter.
The frustration, as far as the Kings were concerned, quickly dissipated.
"We're in charge of everything that we do," Bibby said. "And if we keep winning, there's nothing anybody can do."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
