http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11263209p-12178492c.html
Effort lacking in dismal exhibition season finale
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, October 30, 2004
Even a shower couldn't wash off the smell of this performance.
On the heels of a a perfectly terrible performance Thursday night in a loss at Dallas, the Kings made it disappear with a worse one Friday night while getting their backsides handed to them 124-96 by the Phoenix Suns on national television.
ESPN would have been within every right to clip the broadcast at halftime and televise solitaire in its place.
The Kings finished their eight-game preseason with a 2-6 record, their worst mark since they went 1-6 in 1994.
This is to take nothing away from Phoenix, which finished the preseason 7-1 and appears to have a deep, quick, athletic and talented team.
In fact, if one were to judge the Suns off this night, it would be that they might play the Kings 10 times and win 11.
Kings coach Rick Adelman did not use power forward Chris Webber, who might have helped somewhat calm Phoenix's abusive 58-26 rebounding advantage.
The Suns are not a big team by any stretch of the imagination, so a margin of that size suggests they used their other advantages of quickness, athleticism and desire.
It's that last one that left Adelman fumbling around for answers in the locker room after the game.
Adelman said he was left to hope that his core players would be ready to turn on the switch Tuesday when they return to Dallas to meet the Mavericks in the regular-season opener.
"I hate to say it, but it was the first time since I've been with this group that it was not with what we're trying to do," Adelman said. "I don't want to say selfish, but it seemed like it was about who's going to get the shot and how quickly we are going to get it."
And that description didn't even mention the worst end of the floor for the Kings.
New Phoenix point guard Steve Nash using his poise, savvy and handle to get anywhere he wanted on the floor is not an atypical situation. Having nearly all of his teammates accomplish the same thing is a bit much.
It's not news that the Kings are not among the league's most athletic squads. And without Webber and injured backup center Greg Ostertag, they also are one of the smallest crews.
But to get broken down off the dribble with the consistency that it occurred against Phoenix had to be more frightful than anything that happens tomorrow on Halloween.
The Kings trailed 74-46 at halftime and already had heard boos from fans who were not trying to scare anyone.
Six Suns scored in double figures, led by Joe Johnson, who had 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in 29 minutes.
The Kings regained the spirit of guard Doug Christie, who started and played seven minutes before shutting it down for the night and waiting to see how his sore left foot responds.
Christie had not played at all during training camp and the preseason, and had only partially participated in a scrimmage Wednesday afternoon.
His entire flow revealed that inactivity, but he didn't stand out that much from his seemingly lost teammates. They just didn't have the reason he did.
Always the big-picture thinker, Adelman said there was no need "to beat the horse here," and practice a tired team.
"I think there were some people who were embarrassed out here," he said. "I think it may be best to let them think about it." And if they weren't embarrassed, then that also soon will be evident.
Effort lacking in dismal exhibition season finale
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, October 30, 2004
Even a shower couldn't wash off the smell of this performance.
On the heels of a a perfectly terrible performance Thursday night in a loss at Dallas, the Kings made it disappear with a worse one Friday night while getting their backsides handed to them 124-96 by the Phoenix Suns on national television.
ESPN would have been within every right to clip the broadcast at halftime and televise solitaire in its place.
The Kings finished their eight-game preseason with a 2-6 record, their worst mark since they went 1-6 in 1994.
This is to take nothing away from Phoenix, which finished the preseason 7-1 and appears to have a deep, quick, athletic and talented team.
In fact, if one were to judge the Suns off this night, it would be that they might play the Kings 10 times and win 11.
Kings coach Rick Adelman did not use power forward Chris Webber, who might have helped somewhat calm Phoenix's abusive 58-26 rebounding advantage.
The Suns are not a big team by any stretch of the imagination, so a margin of that size suggests they used their other advantages of quickness, athleticism and desire.
It's that last one that left Adelman fumbling around for answers in the locker room after the game.
Adelman said he was left to hope that his core players would be ready to turn on the switch Tuesday when they return to Dallas to meet the Mavericks in the regular-season opener.
"I hate to say it, but it was the first time since I've been with this group that it was not with what we're trying to do," Adelman said. "I don't want to say selfish, but it seemed like it was about who's going to get the shot and how quickly we are going to get it."
And that description didn't even mention the worst end of the floor for the Kings.
New Phoenix point guard Steve Nash using his poise, savvy and handle to get anywhere he wanted on the floor is not an atypical situation. Having nearly all of his teammates accomplish the same thing is a bit much.
It's not news that the Kings are not among the league's most athletic squads. And without Webber and injured backup center Greg Ostertag, they also are one of the smallest crews.
But to get broken down off the dribble with the consistency that it occurred against Phoenix had to be more frightful than anything that happens tomorrow on Halloween.
The Kings trailed 74-46 at halftime and already had heard boos from fans who were not trying to scare anyone.
Six Suns scored in double figures, led by Joe Johnson, who had 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in 29 minutes.
The Kings regained the spirit of guard Doug Christie, who started and played seven minutes before shutting it down for the night and waiting to see how his sore left foot responds.
Christie had not played at all during training camp and the preseason, and had only partially participated in a scrimmage Wednesday afternoon.
His entire flow revealed that inactivity, but he didn't stand out that much from his seemingly lost teammates. They just didn't have the reason he did.
Always the big-picture thinker, Adelman said there was no need "to beat the horse here," and practice a tired team.
"I think there were some people who were embarrassed out here," he said. "I think it may be best to let them think about it." And if they weren't embarrassed, then that also soon will be evident.
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