http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/132824.html
Seesaw effect hits the West
The Kings are rising while the Warriors and other rivals are slipping.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:21 am PST Monday, March 5, 2007
It's not exactly connect-the-dots logic, but there might be something there.
When Golden State coach Don Nelson waved the white flag Wednesday on his team's postseason prospects, there was a ripple effect in Sacramento. Just as the Warriors had lost for the sixth time in eight attempts, the Kings were dismantling Charlotte and coming within two percentage points of finally exiting the Pacific Division cellar.
Two days later, the Kings finally left last place after a comprehensive win over the Lakers. And now, with 53 consecutive days in the proverbial doghouse behind them, they're talking playoffs.
Not only have the Kings won three in a row and four of five, but they finally have capitalized on the woeful ways of those teams above them. The Warriors, for now, seem far from motivated to seize the Western Conference's eighth spot, nor do the four other teams that -- entering Sunday -- stood within 3 1/2 games of each other from seventh place to 12th.
And here are the Kings, playing so well that they've led for the past 2 hours, 10 minutes and 53 seconds of game time while righting so many wrongs that had made this a season to forget. Suddenly, they're unselfish and up-tempo, applying defensive pressure in key spots and hitting the key shots down the stretch in close games.
"I think right now we've put ourselves in a situation that we're having to scratch and fight and claw to get the eighth spot, but we're going to get it," said small forward Ron Artest, he of the playoff-making prediction last season.
On its own, making up two games seems wholly possible. And even the notion that eighth-seeded teams must be at least .500 doesn't present an unbeatable challenge, as the Kings must finish 14-9 down the stretch to break even. In the past nine seasons, 16 of the 18 No. 8 seeds have finished with at least a .500 winning percentage. The Kings were the West's eighth seed last season, finishing 44-38 after finally leaving last place in the Pacific a bit earlier than this year (Feb. 21, 2006).
The road factor is almost no factor, as the Kings' road-heavy second-half schedule is more balanced from this point on. Eleven of their last 23 games are away from Arco Arena, and they finally have found momentum in winning three of their past four road games. In the strength-of-schedule department, 12 of the Kings' past 23 opponents were -- entering Sunday -- .500 or better teams. The toughest challenges come in back-to-back games against Phoenix, two games against San Antonio, and meetings against Dallas and Utah.
Of course, none of it matters if they don't keep up this brand of basketball that is finally being demonstrated and not merely discussed. If one play was any indication Saturday night, then the Kings finally are focused on playing at a fast pace. Against Portland, forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim took a long rebound and dribbled full speed up the floor, intent on pushing the fast break. Typically, though, point guard Mike Bibby has set that tone.
"He's kind of been the catalyst, pushing the ball and throwing it ahead," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "The pitch-ahead pass has been big. ... I think the players embrace the up-tempo style."
None more so than second-year swingman Francisco García, who has emerged in the past three weeks and provided punch off the bench. García -- who played so sparingly early this season -- has played 16-plus minutes in 11 of the past 12 games, with four double-digit scoring games in that span. Much maligned for his three-point shooting struggles during his career, García has hit 14 of his past 28 three-point attempts.
"We're playing together, playing good offense, sharing the ball, playing together on defense, too," García said. "We've been trying to figure it out all year, but now we're playing great. ... You can see the attitude change."
Not to mention the change in the box scores. The Kings' offense has been operating at a high level, as they've scored 100-plus points in nine of the past 12 games and are seventh in the league in scoring (101 points per game).
"I think everybody realizes you can't do it by yourself," shooting guard Kevin Martin said. "We're all just playing together, playing our roles, and everybody's trying to get to the playoffs."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Seesaw effect hits the West
The Kings are rising while the Warriors and other rivals are slipping.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:21 am PST Monday, March 5, 2007
It's not exactly connect-the-dots logic, but there might be something there.
When Golden State coach Don Nelson waved the white flag Wednesday on his team's postseason prospects, there was a ripple effect in Sacramento. Just as the Warriors had lost for the sixth time in eight attempts, the Kings were dismantling Charlotte and coming within two percentage points of finally exiting the Pacific Division cellar.
Two days later, the Kings finally left last place after a comprehensive win over the Lakers. And now, with 53 consecutive days in the proverbial doghouse behind them, they're talking playoffs.
Not only have the Kings won three in a row and four of five, but they finally have capitalized on the woeful ways of those teams above them. The Warriors, for now, seem far from motivated to seize the Western Conference's eighth spot, nor do the four other teams that -- entering Sunday -- stood within 3 1/2 games of each other from seventh place to 12th.
And here are the Kings, playing so well that they've led for the past 2 hours, 10 minutes and 53 seconds of game time while righting so many wrongs that had made this a season to forget. Suddenly, they're unselfish and up-tempo, applying defensive pressure in key spots and hitting the key shots down the stretch in close games.
"I think right now we've put ourselves in a situation that we're having to scratch and fight and claw to get the eighth spot, but we're going to get it," said small forward Ron Artest, he of the playoff-making prediction last season.
On its own, making up two games seems wholly possible. And even the notion that eighth-seeded teams must be at least .500 doesn't present an unbeatable challenge, as the Kings must finish 14-9 down the stretch to break even. In the past nine seasons, 16 of the 18 No. 8 seeds have finished with at least a .500 winning percentage. The Kings were the West's eighth seed last season, finishing 44-38 after finally leaving last place in the Pacific a bit earlier than this year (Feb. 21, 2006).
The road factor is almost no factor, as the Kings' road-heavy second-half schedule is more balanced from this point on. Eleven of their last 23 games are away from Arco Arena, and they finally have found momentum in winning three of their past four road games. In the strength-of-schedule department, 12 of the Kings' past 23 opponents were -- entering Sunday -- .500 or better teams. The toughest challenges come in back-to-back games against Phoenix, two games against San Antonio, and meetings against Dallas and Utah.
Of course, none of it matters if they don't keep up this brand of basketball that is finally being demonstrated and not merely discussed. If one play was any indication Saturday night, then the Kings finally are focused on playing at a fast pace. Against Portland, forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim took a long rebound and dribbled full speed up the floor, intent on pushing the fast break. Typically, though, point guard Mike Bibby has set that tone.
"He's kind of been the catalyst, pushing the ball and throwing it ahead," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "The pitch-ahead pass has been big. ... I think the players embrace the up-tempo style."
None more so than second-year swingman Francisco García, who has emerged in the past three weeks and provided punch off the bench. García -- who played so sparingly early this season -- has played 16-plus minutes in 11 of the past 12 games, with four double-digit scoring games in that span. Much maligned for his three-point shooting struggles during his career, García has hit 14 of his past 28 three-point attempts.
"We're playing together, playing good offense, sharing the ball, playing together on defense, too," García said. "We've been trying to figure it out all year, but now we're playing great. ... You can see the attitude change."
Not to mention the change in the box scores. The Kings' offense has been operating at a high level, as they've scored 100-plus points in nine of the past 12 games and are seventh in the league in scoring (101 points per game).
"I think everybody realizes you can't do it by yourself," shooting guard Kevin Martin said. "We're all just playing together, playing our roles, and everybody's trying to get to the playoffs."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
