http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14180866p-15008064c.html
Kings must do the math
It all adds up: They have to go 19-13 the rest of the way for a good playoffs shot.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, February 12, 2006
He wasn't looking at the standings, nor was he browsing a Kings schedule to peek at the 32 games to come.
No, when Ron Artest so boldly guaranteed that his new team would be in the playoffs this season, the words came on sheer emotion, as much meant to boost the confidence of his teammates as to predict the future.
So just how bold was the prediction?
Brave enough for Artest, who was a math major in his two years at St. John's, to understand the mathematical mountain the Kings are facing. And for now, these numbers don't add up.
The immediate goal, of course, is gaining enough ground to secure the eighth spot in the Western Conference, never mind that four teams sit between the Kings and the promised land. Based on recent history, it can be assumed that a losing record won't suffice for any team hoping to play into late April and May.
In the past eight seasons, 15 of the 16 No. 8 seeds have finished with a winning percentage at or above the .500 mark. Suddenly, the Boston Celtics' story of 2003-04 is one of inspiration, their 36-46 mark good enough for the lone sub-.500 playoff berth. Ironically, the Celtics were swept by Artest's Indiana Pacers in the first round.
But for the Pacific Division's last-place team to reach the equalizing line by season's end, the Kings must go 19-13 with a schedule that won't be doing them any favors. Of their final 21 opponents, 13 had winning records entering Saturday. And 18 of the 32 games will come on the road, where the Kings' current 6-17 record is worse than all but Portland's in the West. Lastly, the toughest stretch of the season comes at crunch time, when the Kings face the Clippers twice, San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix April 2-11.
With an equation that will take some serious "Good Will Hunting" wizardry to solve, the Kings are choosing philosophy over math as their motivator.
"Man, I ain't even looking ahead," forward Kenny Thomas said. "We can't think like that. We have to try to get a string of wins, which we have. ... We're never going to give up. We play, what thirty-something more games? We've got time."
Kings coach Rick Adelman is employing the Jim Mora attitude - that of the former Indianapolis Colts coach who so famously responded to a question regarding his team's playoff chances in 2001 with "Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs. ... I'm just hoping we can win a game, another game."
It's not that Adelman doesn't see potential with his new mix. But considering his squad has yet to win four games in a row this season, that may be a better short-term goal.
A win over Atlanta today would give the Kings their fourth win in five games, with games against Memphis and Chicago remaining before the All-Star break.
"My mind-set has been to finish off before the All-Star break strong, so that when we come back, we've got to be clicking and pumping and making it happen," forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim said. "I don't look at (the standings). I just look at us taking care of our business. Let's finish up before the All-Star break, then get us a seven-, eight-game winning streak."
There are a handful of trends that must turn if that is to happen. First and foremost is finding ways to win on the road, as the Kings have lost eight of nine away from Arco Arena. Health wouldn't hurt, either, as shooting guard Bonzi Wells (groin strain) might return soon after the All-Star break. With no Kings chosen for the festivities, the masses who are bumped and bruised can rest.
And while Artest's presence has been a success thus far, point guard Mike Bibby has faded lately. In the eight games with Artest, Bibby has hit just 45 of 129 shots (34.9 percent) while averaging 17.8 points per game.
Within the Phoenix Suns' locker room, a board is posted on the wall showing the Western Conference standings. The list goes no deeper than eight, because anything lower doesn't matter.
"I'm a guy who doesn't underestimate a team," said Suns center Amare Stoudemire, who has missed this season after having left knee surgery and hopes to return before the playoffs. "With those (Kings), and the addition that they made (Artest) ... they've got a great chance of making the playoffs and trying to do a little damage."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Kings must do the math
It all adds up: They have to go 19-13 the rest of the way for a good playoffs shot.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Sunday, February 12, 2006
He wasn't looking at the standings, nor was he browsing a Kings schedule to peek at the 32 games to come.
No, when Ron Artest so boldly guaranteed that his new team would be in the playoffs this season, the words came on sheer emotion, as much meant to boost the confidence of his teammates as to predict the future.
So just how bold was the prediction?
Brave enough for Artest, who was a math major in his two years at St. John's, to understand the mathematical mountain the Kings are facing. And for now, these numbers don't add up.
The immediate goal, of course, is gaining enough ground to secure the eighth spot in the Western Conference, never mind that four teams sit between the Kings and the promised land. Based on recent history, it can be assumed that a losing record won't suffice for any team hoping to play into late April and May.
In the past eight seasons, 15 of the 16 No. 8 seeds have finished with a winning percentage at or above the .500 mark. Suddenly, the Boston Celtics' story of 2003-04 is one of inspiration, their 36-46 mark good enough for the lone sub-.500 playoff berth. Ironically, the Celtics were swept by Artest's Indiana Pacers in the first round.
But for the Pacific Division's last-place team to reach the equalizing line by season's end, the Kings must go 19-13 with a schedule that won't be doing them any favors. Of their final 21 opponents, 13 had winning records entering Saturday. And 18 of the 32 games will come on the road, where the Kings' current 6-17 record is worse than all but Portland's in the West. Lastly, the toughest stretch of the season comes at crunch time, when the Kings face the Clippers twice, San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix April 2-11.
With an equation that will take some serious "Good Will Hunting" wizardry to solve, the Kings are choosing philosophy over math as their motivator.
"Man, I ain't even looking ahead," forward Kenny Thomas said. "We can't think like that. We have to try to get a string of wins, which we have. ... We're never going to give up. We play, what thirty-something more games? We've got time."
Kings coach Rick Adelman is employing the Jim Mora attitude - that of the former Indianapolis Colts coach who so famously responded to a question regarding his team's playoff chances in 2001 with "Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs. ... I'm just hoping we can win a game, another game."
It's not that Adelman doesn't see potential with his new mix. But considering his squad has yet to win four games in a row this season, that may be a better short-term goal.
A win over Atlanta today would give the Kings their fourth win in five games, with games against Memphis and Chicago remaining before the All-Star break.
"My mind-set has been to finish off before the All-Star break strong, so that when we come back, we've got to be clicking and pumping and making it happen," forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim said. "I don't look at (the standings). I just look at us taking care of our business. Let's finish up before the All-Star break, then get us a seven-, eight-game winning streak."
There are a handful of trends that must turn if that is to happen. First and foremost is finding ways to win on the road, as the Kings have lost eight of nine away from Arco Arena. Health wouldn't hurt, either, as shooting guard Bonzi Wells (groin strain) might return soon after the All-Star break. With no Kings chosen for the festivities, the masses who are bumped and bruised can rest.
And while Artest's presence has been a success thus far, point guard Mike Bibby has faded lately. In the eight games with Artest, Bibby has hit just 45 of 129 shots (34.9 percent) while averaging 17.8 points per game.
Within the Phoenix Suns' locker room, a board is posted on the wall showing the Western Conference standings. The list goes no deeper than eight, because anything lower doesn't matter.
"I'm a guy who doesn't underestimate a team," said Suns center Amare Stoudemire, who has missed this season after having left knee surgery and hopes to return before the playoffs. "With those (Kings), and the addition that they made (Artest) ... they've got a great chance of making the playoffs and trying to do a little damage."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
