http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13993888p-14827262c.html
Kings notes: Wells' magic not enough, as Finley's jumper wins it
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
SAN ANTONIO - A beauty of a play was wasted by an end that, in the Kings' eyes, couldn't have been uglier.
That Kings guard Bonzi Wells hit a clutch shot is no longer news. He beat Toronto with a game-winner Nov. 25, then shocked Minnesota with a last-second desperation three-pointer Tuesday.
With less than 10 seconds left against San Antonio, Wells caught a pass from Brad Miller on the right block, the ball having whipped from left to right through Mike Bibby's hands before Miller's. Wells found light between three Spurs, hitting a layup for a one-point lead. But when Michael Finley's 20-footer fell with 2.5 seconds left in the Spurs' 90-89 win, the Kings were left to analyze their own defensive breakdown.
"We knew they were either going to (Tim) Duncan or that (Tony) Parker was going to penetrate," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "I don't know what happened. I don't think we rotated enough. Bonzi got in there to stop (Parker). Someone should've rotated to Finley and made him make an extra pass."
That someone was Stojakovic, who came off of Nick Van Exel to help but couldn't get to Finley before he fired away.
"That last possession, you've just got to lock in and get a stop when you need a stop," Kings forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim said.
The Kings failed to stop Duncan. The Spurs center scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Palling around - P.J. Carlesimo started with the disclaimer.
The San Antonio assistant and Adelman are longtime friends. They first got acquainted in the late 1980s, when forward Mark Bryant went from producing for Carlesimo's Seton Hall team to playing for Adelman's Portland Trail Blazers.
They experienced a shared tragedy, too. Ramon Ramos, a Puerto Rican who played under Carlesimo at Seton Hall, earned a roster spot under Adelman in the fall of 1989, then died in a car crash before he'd played a minute that Dec. 16.
The two men also share another coaching connection: Carlesimo followed Adelman as head coach at both Portland and Golden State. Their history being what it is, and despite so much talk of Adelman being fired, Carlesimo said no one should be replacing Adelman anytime soon.
"Rick Adelman is one of the most respected coaches in this league," said Carlesimo. "I think the job he's done, and is doing in Sacramento, is unbelievable. But the bar is set so high there, because they've been so good for so long.
"I just don't think you can turn a team over, make the changes they've made and stay at that level. I still think they're good, and I think they're going to get better as the year goes on."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Kings notes: Wells' magic not enough, as Finley's jumper wins it
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
SAN ANTONIO - A beauty of a play was wasted by an end that, in the Kings' eyes, couldn't have been uglier.
That Kings guard Bonzi Wells hit a clutch shot is no longer news. He beat Toronto with a game-winner Nov. 25, then shocked Minnesota with a last-second desperation three-pointer Tuesday.
With less than 10 seconds left against San Antonio, Wells caught a pass from Brad Miller on the right block, the ball having whipped from left to right through Mike Bibby's hands before Miller's. Wells found light between three Spurs, hitting a layup for a one-point lead. But when Michael Finley's 20-footer fell with 2.5 seconds left in the Spurs' 90-89 win, the Kings were left to analyze their own defensive breakdown.
"We knew they were either going to (Tim) Duncan or that (Tony) Parker was going to penetrate," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "I don't know what happened. I don't think we rotated enough. Bonzi got in there to stop (Parker). Someone should've rotated to Finley and made him make an extra pass."
That someone was Stojakovic, who came off of Nick Van Exel to help but couldn't get to Finley before he fired away.
"That last possession, you've just got to lock in and get a stop when you need a stop," Kings forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim said.
The Kings failed to stop Duncan. The Spurs center scored 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Palling around - P.J. Carlesimo started with the disclaimer.
The San Antonio assistant and Adelman are longtime friends. They first got acquainted in the late 1980s, when forward Mark Bryant went from producing for Carlesimo's Seton Hall team to playing for Adelman's Portland Trail Blazers.
They experienced a shared tragedy, too. Ramon Ramos, a Puerto Rican who played under Carlesimo at Seton Hall, earned a roster spot under Adelman in the fall of 1989, then died in a car crash before he'd played a minute that Dec. 16.
The two men also share another coaching connection: Carlesimo followed Adelman as head coach at both Portland and Golden State. Their history being what it is, and despite so much talk of Adelman being fired, Carlesimo said no one should be replacing Adelman anytime soon.
"Rick Adelman is one of the most respected coaches in this league," said Carlesimo. "I think the job he's done, and is doing in Sacramento, is unbelievable. But the bar is set so high there, because they've been so good for so long.
"I just don't think you can turn a team over, make the changes they've made and stay at that level. I still think they're good, and I think they're going to get better as the year goes on."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
