http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14225674p-15049935c.html
Kings on road to recovery
Sacramento wins its second straight away from Arco Arena
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, March 4, 2006
ATLANTA - The name on the back of the jersey still said Miller.
But for a brief second, the man looked like Joe Namath - only bigger.
Nine-point lead be darned, this was the Kings in the fourth quarter on the road, meaning a collapse was still entirely possible with seven minutes left. Then Brad Miller caught a rebound and reared back, throwing a perfect pass to Kevin Martin some 70 feet away, and watched as Martin was fouled on his way to the hoop.
Miller walked toward the bench with a smile, breathing easy while his hand pitter pattered on his chest.
Yes, the Kings' latest triumph - 102-93 over Atlanta - proved their heart is beating full bore these days. The team that has come alive won for the ninth time in 12 games, making for an impressive 2-0 start on the five-game getaway and marking the first time this season the Kings have won consecutive road games on the same trip.
And there was something exposed in Miller's heave, an aggressiveness and confidence at a point in the game when the Kings were once nothing but tentative. Martin's two converted free throws snowballed into more clutch plays - a falling reverse layup from Miller, back-to-back jumpers buried by Mike Bibby. Coming off a win in Cleveland on Wednesday when late execution was key, the Kings - as the kids say - have flipped the script.
"A lot of road games this year, we've been up by five with a minute to go and lost it," said Miller, who had 24 points and 10 rebounds. "It's good to finally turn the corner, to get that lead and get the right stops and make enough shots."
One completion, in other words, led to another.
"It's not the first time I've thrown that," he said of the pass. "I don't know how much coach liked it, but Kevin's the leak-out king so I knew he was going to catch it."
Their recent play has the Kings believing they can catch the Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot, too. Coming off their loss in Los Angeles a week before, when an improving team took a step backward with its uninspired performance, the Kings have won three straight. They trail the Lakers by 1 1/2 games.
And since they're making a habit of clearing hurdles, here comes another: the Kings have yet to win four straight games this season, with two three-game streaks ending there.
"This group hasn't been together that long, and they had to learn what they had to do," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "I think we think if we go out and play the way we're capable, we're going to be in the game."
They were in this one throughout, facing a team whose overall record (19-38) meant little considering the Hawks had won eight of their last 14 games. The Kings led 50-47 at halftime and 71-69 entering the fourth. A 14-7 run to start the fourth led to Miller's long pass to Martin. But in another trend they wouldn't mind continuing, the late-game defense of Ron Artest, once again, served as the coffin nail.
Just as he had against Cleveland's LeBron James, Artest made guard Joe Johnson work for every shot. The Hawks' leading scorer had just six of his 19 points in the second half. Artest also had 18 points Friday, hitting 8 of 16 shots.
"He's a hard-nosed guy and very physical," said Atlanta forward Josh Smith, who had eight points. "He's like a pit bull. If he senses that you're scared of him, he's going to take advantage of it."
The Kings made their own advantages on the offensive end. Martin had nine rebounds and hit 7 of 13 shots for 19 points - his highest total in a road game since Jan. 25. Bibby had 17 points and eight assists, and forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 12 off the bench.
UP NEXT
KINGS AT WASHINGTON
When: Sunday, 10 a.m.
TV/radio: None; KHTK 1140, KRCX 99.9, KAHI 950
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Kings on road to recovery
Sacramento wins its second straight away from Arco Arena
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, March 4, 2006
ATLANTA - The name on the back of the jersey still said Miller.
But for a brief second, the man looked like Joe Namath - only bigger.
Nine-point lead be darned, this was the Kings in the fourth quarter on the road, meaning a collapse was still entirely possible with seven minutes left. Then Brad Miller caught a rebound and reared back, throwing a perfect pass to Kevin Martin some 70 feet away, and watched as Martin was fouled on his way to the hoop.
Miller walked toward the bench with a smile, breathing easy while his hand pitter pattered on his chest.
Yes, the Kings' latest triumph - 102-93 over Atlanta - proved their heart is beating full bore these days. The team that has come alive won for the ninth time in 12 games, making for an impressive 2-0 start on the five-game getaway and marking the first time this season the Kings have won consecutive road games on the same trip.
And there was something exposed in Miller's heave, an aggressiveness and confidence at a point in the game when the Kings were once nothing but tentative. Martin's two converted free throws snowballed into more clutch plays - a falling reverse layup from Miller, back-to-back jumpers buried by Mike Bibby. Coming off a win in Cleveland on Wednesday when late execution was key, the Kings - as the kids say - have flipped the script.
"A lot of road games this year, we've been up by five with a minute to go and lost it," said Miller, who had 24 points and 10 rebounds. "It's good to finally turn the corner, to get that lead and get the right stops and make enough shots."
One completion, in other words, led to another.
"It's not the first time I've thrown that," he said of the pass. "I don't know how much coach liked it, but Kevin's the leak-out king so I knew he was going to catch it."
Their recent play has the Kings believing they can catch the Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot, too. Coming off their loss in Los Angeles a week before, when an improving team took a step backward with its uninspired performance, the Kings have won three straight. They trail the Lakers by 1 1/2 games.
And since they're making a habit of clearing hurdles, here comes another: the Kings have yet to win four straight games this season, with two three-game streaks ending there.
"This group hasn't been together that long, and they had to learn what they had to do," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "I think we think if we go out and play the way we're capable, we're going to be in the game."
They were in this one throughout, facing a team whose overall record (19-38) meant little considering the Hawks had won eight of their last 14 games. The Kings led 50-47 at halftime and 71-69 entering the fourth. A 14-7 run to start the fourth led to Miller's long pass to Martin. But in another trend they wouldn't mind continuing, the late-game defense of Ron Artest, once again, served as the coffin nail.
Just as he had against Cleveland's LeBron James, Artest made guard Joe Johnson work for every shot. The Hawks' leading scorer had just six of his 19 points in the second half. Artest also had 18 points Friday, hitting 8 of 16 shots.
"He's a hard-nosed guy and very physical," said Atlanta forward Josh Smith, who had eight points. "He's like a pit bull. If he senses that you're scared of him, he's going to take advantage of it."
The Kings made their own advantages on the offensive end. Martin had nine rebounds and hit 7 of 13 shots for 19 points - his highest total in a road game since Jan. 25. Bibby had 17 points and eight assists, and forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 12 off the bench.
UP NEXT
KINGS AT WASHINGTON
When: Sunday, 10 a.m.
TV/radio: None; KHTK 1140, KRCX 99.9, KAHI 950
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
