Coach seeking better effort

[LMM]

Coach seeking better effort

Despite 17-9 record, the Kings aren't showing much fire early in their games.

By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, December 31, 2004

SALT LAKE CITY - If the Kings already had won an NBA title, then their laissez-faire approach to many games this season could be partly understood.



Since they haven't won anything more than those Pacific Division title flags hanging in the Arco Arena rafters, the lackadaisical outings make no sense.



They weren't ready Sunday in a disappointing home loss to Golden State, and then had to wait five days for a chance at redemption in tonight's New Year's Eve contest against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center.

Critics question Sacramento's defensive and rebounding abilities, but coach Rick Adelman said all he wants for the new year is a consistent effort.

"That's what we need," Adelman said of his team with a 17-9 record, still one of the league's best. "With effort and energy, everything else will follow. If we bring effort, we'll execute. I'm sure of that."

The Kings play five of their next six games on the road, but being home was no easy chore during their recent 2-3 homestand.

Sacramento returns home to meet the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night, then plays four games in five nights next week in New York, Toronto, Atlanta and New Orleans.

Sacramento has won six of its past seven road games after beginning the season with four straight road defeats. During those four losses, the Kings allowed an average of 105 points per game.

In the past seven road games, the Kings have allowed just 97.4 points per game.

"Our schedule right now is challenging, but we can win games," Adelman said. "But I asked them to dedicate themselves to establish who they are, who they are going to be during this next month.

"We see teams in our conference going up and down. If we're going to continue to just cruise, we're going to more and more be sliding backwards into the pack. We want to separate ourselves from the pack."

The Kings are second in the Pacific Division and fourth in the Western Conference. But Dallas (19-10), Minnesota (16-11) and the Los Angeles Lakers (15-12) all are within striking distance.

The Kings have trailed at both halftime and at the end of the third quarter in 11 of their 26 games, an indication that they fail to bring the fire at the start of games.

A veteran core group has helped them win five of the 11 games in which they trailed to start the fourth quarter.

"If we're not going to come out and play with effort and energy, we're going to lose games at home," Adelman said. "The Golden State game is as good an example as there is.

"And if we're going to lose games like that at home, it only makes sense we're going to lose on the road if we don't come ready to play."

At the other end of the spectrum is the Jazz, a team beset by major injuries.

Starting center Jarron Collins and All-Star forward Andrei Kirilenko are on the injured list with knee sprains.

Utah began the season 6-1, but the Jazz has lost 17 of its past 22 games. And after years with future Hall of Famer John Stockton at point guard, coach Jerry Sloan is searching for one of three players - Keith McLeod, Raul López and Carlos Arroyo - to take control of that spot.

 

[albeitrue]

Utah began the season 6-1, but the Jazz has lost 17 of its past 22 games. And after years with future Hall of Famer John Stockton at point guard, coach Jerry Sloan is searching for one of three players - Keith McLeod, Raul López and Carlos Arroyo - to take control of that spot.

Utah will never be able to replace Stockton! Ihave seen some threats of promise from Arroyo, both against us in pre-season and in the Olympics....can't see anyone becoming another Stockton very soon though.

I'm all for capitalizing on the Jazz's injuries tonight.

Hopefully Tag will get the reception he truly deserves for all his 9 years service and dedication.

Go TAG!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[thedofd]

Coach seeking better effort



I wonder how many times this year we have seen or will see headlines like this. It makes me wonder whether the Kings have tuned Rick out, whether they collectively are at the point where they can't consistently get motivated, whether they're too mentally or physically beat up, or what the deal is.

How many times, after a game the Kings should have won but didn't, have we seen guys say, "We need to give a better effort" or "We need everyone to hit the boards" or "We need to keep our men in front of us on defense." From the head coach to the 12th man to the casual fan, WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE. The question is, are the Kings just going to talk about them, or are they actually going to address them?

I know that the Kings have one of the best records in the league, that they're a veteran squad, that they'll make the playoffs, etc. The issue, in my mind, is why they haven't seemed to grasp that championship-caliber teams have fewer brain-fart games, that they step on the throats of bad teams, that they find a way to motivate themselves to give consistent efforts, that they realize 1 or 2 games in the standings can mean home-court advantage.

I know that the Kings just lost Bobby Jackson, and that injury can't be discounted. But didn't many of us expect -- while praying otherwise -- one of the Kings' main guys to go down for an extended period of time at some point this season? It's something the Kings practically have to build into their game plan every year.

Right now, it's hard to envision the Kings as a championship team. Please don't call me a traitor or a heretic: I want very badly for this group to win a championship. But I look at the Phoenixes, San Antonios and Miamis and don't see the chink in their armor, other than a major injury.

To reach that level, the Kings need help. Judging from Geoff Petrie's recent comments, that help is unlikely to come from the outside via a trade or free-agent signing. So the help will have to come from within. The most important thing is for Peja, Brad, Chris and Mike to more consistently play like all-star caliber players. Beyond that, perhaps Adelman needs to get more creative in his coaching, whether it's using a deeper bench or adjusting the defense to cover some of the obvious weaknesses. And Songaila, Barnes, Evans and 'Tag must contribute what they can consistently.

 

[Rockmeister]

Critics question Sacramento's defensive and rebounding abilities, but coach Rick Adelman said all he wants for the new year is a consistent effort.

How many times are we going to hear this? So far I've read articles and heard Adelman in interviews on this at least 5 or 6 times. If the Kings need to hear this so many times from a coach, then maybe we need a different coach. I'm tired of having a coach say the same thing over, and over, and over, and over, and over and over again, and they still don't listen. And, please don't give me this "its only one game", or "give it time"....those lines are getting old to hear.

Let's see if not playing for 5 days....what Kings will show up tonight and the rest of the season. Well it be what Rick is requesting? We will soon know this answer.

 

[Bricklayer]

I find it amusing that the team is burnt out, but its the coaches fault again even though he is daying/identifying/doing the right things.

Doesn't matter though -- if the team is indeed burnt out what needs to go are the players, or at least enough of them to change the culture. What, if we go out and get some coach who hasn't been through the wars with this bunch they are suddenly going to recapture their enthusiasm? Hardly. They aren't unenthusiasic because they do not believe inthe coach, they are unenthusiastic because of all of the disappointments, misfortune etc. they've suffered over the years. They've been really battered as a team emotionally, and at this point there is not a coach alive that you could hire who could come in and have all tof the guys go woohoo!! Now we are going to win it! (perhaps Riley if he were still coaching -- would have to be somebody absolutely legendary who could convince them that he saw something in them that they could not see themselves).

 

[HndsmCelt]

Personlay I like the Idea of binging Riley to Sac if he were willing, and given how long ithas been since Pat went anywhere he might beconvinced to give itone more try with a solid team, but to fire Adelman at this point in the year would not inspirre confidnence in the team. I don't see too many options for a mid season replancemnt, which takes us back to the same old situation IF the Kings don't win the WF this year I think the Maloofs will be replacing Adleman and a lot of players... New coaching options for a new team are plentafull but if Pat were on hand and doing some of the picking who knows...

 

[Bricklayer]

Personlay I like the Idea of binging Riley to Sac if he were willing, and given how long ithas been since Pat went anywhere he might beconvinced to give itone more try with a solid team, but to fire Adelman at this point in the year would not inspirre confidnence in the team. I don't see too many options for a mid season replancemnt, which takes us back to the same old situation IF the Kings don't win the WF this year I think the Maloofs will be replacing Adleman and a lot of players... New coaching options for a new team are plentafull but if Pat were on hand and doing some of the picking who knows...

I can't see Pat coming to Sacramento anymore than I can see PJ doing it, but at least its not so revolting. Pat's an old big city guy. Glamour etc. He is also aguy who's system absolutely requires an elite center to anchor it, which we don't have. Doubt he'd have any interest in trying to turn Brad into Kareem/Ewing/Zo. Interestingly, if he were going to coach again the best fit = Houston I would think. Think JVGs collar is getting a little tight?

 

[HndsmCelt]

I can't see Pat coming to Sacramento anymore than I can see PJ doing it, but at least its not so revolting. Pat's an old big city guy. Glamour etc. He is also aguy who's system absolutely requires an elite center to anchor it, which we don't have. Doubt he'd have any interest in trying to turn Brad into Kareem/Ewing/Zo. Interestingly, if he were going to coach again the best fit = Houston I would think. Think JVGs collar is getting a little tight?

Can't argue with your assesement of Riley's style. Probalby right that Houston is a better fit BUT I am not sure Yao is the elite center you credit him to be, he will always require long spells on the bench. As a team Houston is missing a few pieces. If you look at his pet project Kareem had kicked arround alot befoer Pat put together a BALLANCED team. That is the one huge advantage the current Kings roser has over other teams, the most ballanced starting line up in the NBA.