http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11449990p-12364152c.html
Kings victors in third straight
Their offense finds a groove against a winless Bulls team.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Kings coach Rick Adelman was walking the sidelines in front of his team's bench like, well, like a man without a contract for next season.
His team had taken a 19-point third-quarter lead, then gone into chill mode, handling the ball carelessly and the offense indifferently.
Ultimately, Adelman had nothing to worry about on this Tuesday night because the Kings never really were threatened and won their third straight game, 113-106, over the Chicago Bulls at Arco Arena before an announced sellout crowd of 17,317.
OAS_AD('Button20');There appeared to be quite a few empty seats in the lower bowl throughout the game, and the owners of those seats might have had the right concept in staying away. The game was played at a fast yet erratic pace, and that wasn't a problem for the Kings (4-4) as long as they executed their offense and not themselves.
Sure, those ticket-holders who chose to stay away missed a season-high 29 points from Peja Stojakovic, who made 11 of 19 field-goal attempts, including 4 of 10 three-point attempts and each of his free-throw shots.
Mike Bibby was a primary scorer all evening with a career-high-tying six three-pointers in 10 attempts. Include Bobby Jackson's season-high 20 points in 26 minutes and Chris Webber's 19-point, 13-rebound (all defensive) and six-assist evening, and it was clear the Kings had enough firepower to win their fourth game in the past five.
Chicago (0-5) is one of two winless teams this season (with New Orleans). This was the first of a seven-game road trip.
The Bulls were led by shooting guard Eric Piatkowski's 24 points. The veteran free agent stepped into the starting role against the Kings for rookie guard Ben Gordon. And Chicago certainly played hard enough to outrebound the Kings 52-40. But Sacramento committed just 12 turnovers, four in the fourth quarter that led to eight points in the period. And the Kings made 20 more free throws and shot 20 more than the Bulls.
Chicago coach Scott Skiles said being outscored from the free-throw line is nothing new or nice for his young team.
"We got beat basically at the free-throw line," Skiles said. "Almost every game, the other team makes more free throws than we attempt, so that's not a very good combination coupled with (the) turnovers. We played hard, but we just didn't play smart."
That the Kings had three players reach the 20-point mark for the second straight game indicates an offense that seems to be finding a rhythm after the season's slow start.
Before Friday night's game here against Memphis, however, the Kings better order up some "Box Out" from wherever the stuff is manufactured. Chicago grabbed 20 offensive boards - the most by a Kings opponent this season - using a formula of quickness, athleticism and jumping ability, to go over and around Sacramento's mostly ground-bound crew.
As it is, it's not as if Adelman is a picture of relaxation. But getting off to a slow start this season, then watching his team get worked over on its defensive boards is a bad combination for a coach looking for more security in a new deal. Center Brad Miller knows his team has to improve.
"We (stink) at rebounding," said Miller, who had 10 rebounds. "I'll be the one to say it. I'm one of the main rebounders. "We just got to shove them and box them out and tip balls to each other. We don't have the jumpers and athleticism as most teams do, so we've got to stick to the fundamentals and the basics."
Kings victors in third straight
Their offense finds a groove against a winless Bulls team.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Kings coach Rick Adelman was walking the sidelines in front of his team's bench like, well, like a man without a contract for next season.
His team had taken a 19-point third-quarter lead, then gone into chill mode, handling the ball carelessly and the offense indifferently.
Ultimately, Adelman had nothing to worry about on this Tuesday night because the Kings never really were threatened and won their third straight game, 113-106, over the Chicago Bulls at Arco Arena before an announced sellout crowd of 17,317.
OAS_AD('Button20');There appeared to be quite a few empty seats in the lower bowl throughout the game, and the owners of those seats might have had the right concept in staying away. The game was played at a fast yet erratic pace, and that wasn't a problem for the Kings (4-4) as long as they executed their offense and not themselves.
Sure, those ticket-holders who chose to stay away missed a season-high 29 points from Peja Stojakovic, who made 11 of 19 field-goal attempts, including 4 of 10 three-point attempts and each of his free-throw shots.
Mike Bibby was a primary scorer all evening with a career-high-tying six three-pointers in 10 attempts. Include Bobby Jackson's season-high 20 points in 26 minutes and Chris Webber's 19-point, 13-rebound (all defensive) and six-assist evening, and it was clear the Kings had enough firepower to win their fourth game in the past five.
Chicago (0-5) is one of two winless teams this season (with New Orleans). This was the first of a seven-game road trip.
The Bulls were led by shooting guard Eric Piatkowski's 24 points. The veteran free agent stepped into the starting role against the Kings for rookie guard Ben Gordon. And Chicago certainly played hard enough to outrebound the Kings 52-40. But Sacramento committed just 12 turnovers, four in the fourth quarter that led to eight points in the period. And the Kings made 20 more free throws and shot 20 more than the Bulls.
Chicago coach Scott Skiles said being outscored from the free-throw line is nothing new or nice for his young team.
"We got beat basically at the free-throw line," Skiles said. "Almost every game, the other team makes more free throws than we attempt, so that's not a very good combination coupled with (the) turnovers. We played hard, but we just didn't play smart."
That the Kings had three players reach the 20-point mark for the second straight game indicates an offense that seems to be finding a rhythm after the season's slow start.
Before Friday night's game here against Memphis, however, the Kings better order up some "Box Out" from wherever the stuff is manufactured. Chicago grabbed 20 offensive boards - the most by a Kings opponent this season - using a formula of quickness, athleticism and jumping ability, to go over and around Sacramento's mostly ground-bound crew.
As it is, it's not as if Adelman is a picture of relaxation. But getting off to a slow start this season, then watching his team get worked over on its defensive boards is a bad combination for a coach looking for more security in a new deal. Center Brad Miller knows his team has to improve.
"We (stink) at rebounding," said Miller, who had 10 rebounds. "I'll be the one to say it. I'm one of the main rebounders. "We just got to shove them and box them out and tip balls to each other. We don't have the jumpers and athleticism as most teams do, so we've got to stick to the fundamentals and the basics."
