http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13862086p-14701784c.html
Players are not ready to panic
Team believes it can turn it around
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, November 15, 2005
There was a time at Kings home games when the pressure was all on the out-of-town folks, from the cowbells ringing in opponents' ears to the way the Kings would play with pride nearly every time they hit the home floor.
Ah, the good old days of six months ago.
But if Sunday night's loss against the New York Knicks is the new norm, catcalls and boos are now a part of the Arco Arena experience. Despite a team huddle before tipoff that ended with one Kings player yelling, "We must protect this house!" they haven't done so, falling to 1-2 at home and 2-5 overall. With 10 of the next 12 games at home and the Utah Jazz in town tonight, the Arco walls will come closing in should the losses continue.
"We've got to fix a lot of things, because everybody's expecting to win," Kings center Brad Miller said. "We've got (the media) on our (butt), all the fans being on our (butts), and it's a lot of pressure. It's a boiling point sometimes."
Yet in a strange twist, it may be just the sort of melting pot to bring a disjointed team together. Miller said the Kings are becoming increasingly guarded, forming an us-against-the-world mentality as a survival tactic of sorts between the coaches and players.
"We can't worry about the fans right now, or the media, or about anybody that's not directly involved with this team," Miller said. "If we come out and win the next game by 40 (points), and win the rest of these games at home, everyone will be like, 'Oh, (coach Rick) Adelman is the best, you guys are the best.' It doesn't matter. We've basically got about 17 people to worry about, and that's it."
The one at the top - Adelman - admitted that there is plenty of reason to worry, no matter that the season is still so young. His offense, which Adelman sees as the missing piece that matters most, is ranked 22nd in the league. The smooth motion sets and high-post wizardry of old has been replaced with a herky-jerk version that struggles to score in the halfcourt set or, heaven forbid, on a fast break. Adelman said the problem is the execution of the plan, not the plan itself.
"I told them today, 'I can put you in a different offense, because I know every offense that's been run in this league in the last 20 years,' " Adelman said.
" ... You could come down, just throw it inside to (forward) Shareef (Abdur-Rahim), and the rest of them stand around," Adelman said. "You could run pick and roll. There are things you can do, but what's made it difficult to guard us is the reading, and the timing, where it's tough for defenses to lock in. The way we're playing right now, it's not tough for defenses to lock in.
"I'm not going to panic or anything like that. But worry? Yeah."
Adelman will stick by his rotation, too, playing his starters heavy minutes and hoping they take it upon themselves to play with more passion.
"I can't take their money away," Adelman said when asked what he can do to inspire his team. "You can take minutes away, but when it's your main guys in this league, that doesn't work. Unless you have a starting five on the bench that's just as good as them. They're professionals. And when they play a game like (Friday night's win) against Denver, then play a game like they did (against the Knicks), that should challenge their pride."
The one who should be worried the most said he isn't: point guard Mike Bibby, who is shooting 37 percent and averaging 12.6 points per game.
"It's only been, what, six, seven games?" Bibby said. "You've got to give us a chance now. I have no idea (how long it will take). You've just got to wait and see."
Whether the Kings have enough to get over the Jazz tonight will soon be seen. Utah enters with two starters down in forwards Andrei Kirilenko and guard/forward Matt Harpring, while the Kings have only minor injuries. Rookie Francisco García said he is ready to return from his four-game absence, having sprained his right ankle against Phoenix on Nov. 6. Shooting guard Bonzi Wells continues to play through a middle finger sprain on his shooting hand. Wells suffered the injury against Houston on Nov. 2.
The Kings' outlook, meanwhile, needs to stay positive.
"It'd be silly to give up," small forward Peja Stojakovic said. "Each of us has a certain amount of pride, whether you're old or new. ... I think we're going to be OK. I still believe that this team has potential."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Players are not ready to panic
Team believes it can turn it around
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, November 15, 2005
There was a time at Kings home games when the pressure was all on the out-of-town folks, from the cowbells ringing in opponents' ears to the way the Kings would play with pride nearly every time they hit the home floor.
Ah, the good old days of six months ago.
But if Sunday night's loss against the New York Knicks is the new norm, catcalls and boos are now a part of the Arco Arena experience. Despite a team huddle before tipoff that ended with one Kings player yelling, "We must protect this house!" they haven't done so, falling to 1-2 at home and 2-5 overall. With 10 of the next 12 games at home and the Utah Jazz in town tonight, the Arco walls will come closing in should the losses continue.
"We've got to fix a lot of things, because everybody's expecting to win," Kings center Brad Miller said. "We've got (the media) on our (butt), all the fans being on our (butts), and it's a lot of pressure. It's a boiling point sometimes."
Yet in a strange twist, it may be just the sort of melting pot to bring a disjointed team together. Miller said the Kings are becoming increasingly guarded, forming an us-against-the-world mentality as a survival tactic of sorts between the coaches and players.
"We can't worry about the fans right now, or the media, or about anybody that's not directly involved with this team," Miller said. "If we come out and win the next game by 40 (points), and win the rest of these games at home, everyone will be like, 'Oh, (coach Rick) Adelman is the best, you guys are the best.' It doesn't matter. We've basically got about 17 people to worry about, and that's it."
The one at the top - Adelman - admitted that there is plenty of reason to worry, no matter that the season is still so young. His offense, which Adelman sees as the missing piece that matters most, is ranked 22nd in the league. The smooth motion sets and high-post wizardry of old has been replaced with a herky-jerk version that struggles to score in the halfcourt set or, heaven forbid, on a fast break. Adelman said the problem is the execution of the plan, not the plan itself.
"I told them today, 'I can put you in a different offense, because I know every offense that's been run in this league in the last 20 years,' " Adelman said.
" ... You could come down, just throw it inside to (forward) Shareef (Abdur-Rahim), and the rest of them stand around," Adelman said. "You could run pick and roll. There are things you can do, but what's made it difficult to guard us is the reading, and the timing, where it's tough for defenses to lock in. The way we're playing right now, it's not tough for defenses to lock in.
"I'm not going to panic or anything like that. But worry? Yeah."
Adelman will stick by his rotation, too, playing his starters heavy minutes and hoping they take it upon themselves to play with more passion.
"I can't take their money away," Adelman said when asked what he can do to inspire his team. "You can take minutes away, but when it's your main guys in this league, that doesn't work. Unless you have a starting five on the bench that's just as good as them. They're professionals. And when they play a game like (Friday night's win) against Denver, then play a game like they did (against the Knicks), that should challenge their pride."
The one who should be worried the most said he isn't: point guard Mike Bibby, who is shooting 37 percent and averaging 12.6 points per game.
"It's only been, what, six, seven games?" Bibby said. "You've got to give us a chance now. I have no idea (how long it will take). You've just got to wait and see."
Whether the Kings have enough to get over the Jazz tonight will soon be seen. Utah enters with two starters down in forwards Andrei Kirilenko and guard/forward Matt Harpring, while the Kings have only minor injuries. Rookie Francisco García said he is ready to return from his four-game absence, having sprained his right ankle against Phoenix on Nov. 6. Shooting guard Bonzi Wells continues to play through a middle finger sprain on his shooting hand. Wells suffered the injury against Houston on Nov. 2.
The Kings' outlook, meanwhile, needs to stay positive.
"It'd be silly to give up," small forward Peja Stojakovic said. "Each of us has a certain amount of pride, whether you're old or new. ... I think we're going to be OK. I still believe that this team has potential."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
