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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11716399p-12604887c.html
Kings have plenty of motivation
The only loss in their previous 13 games was against Minnesota last month at Arco Arena.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, December 10, 2004
MINNEAPOLIS - The Kings have no bench.
Peja Stojakovic wants out. He and Chris Webber aren't getting along.
The Kings are going to miss Vlade Divac.
Ownership has not given coach Rick Adelman any contractual backing for next season.
The Kings are done.
Those words swirled when the Kings started the NBA season 1-4.
In true holiday spirit, the Kings say, "Bah, humbug."
The Kings simply do not care what anybody says about them or their chances of winning an NBA title this season.
They believe they can do it, and that's that. It does not matter to them if they no longer are the 'in' pick of the experts.
They'll enter tonight's game at the Target Center against the Minnesota Timberwolves on a five-game winning streak and as winners of 12 of their past 13 games to start this three-game swing through the Midwest.
Since Nov. 10, the Kings' only loss has been to these Timberwolves at Arco Arena on Nov. 28.
Minnesota has won four straight regular-season games against the Kings and eliminated them from last season's Western Conference semifinals 4-3.
The Kings allowed a season-high point total in their 121-110 loss to the T-wolves last month. Kings coach Rick Adelman said his team must do a better job defending an extremely potent and versatile offense.
"These guys handled us pretty good at our place," Adelman said. "That's all the motivation you need. They are the only team to beat us at home, the only team to beat us in the last 13 games."
Then there is the ultimate motivation and goal of trying to win an elusive title. It's a concept the Kings have maintained their focus upon regardless of what has been said about them and by whom it has been said.
"No question, in years past, it's been something that was put on us at the beginning of the year," Kings guard Doug Christie said. "Whereas, your (regular-season) record necessarily needed to reflect (a team's championship quality).
"That could still be the outcome, but I don't think everybody is looking at us that way. Once you get to the playoffs, as you know, you get on a roll and anybody can make it happen, and that's our mind-set.
"Play the season as hard as we can, get as good as we can as far as execution, rebounding and defense and then once the playoffs hit, go at it full-bore."
Adelman said he was a bit concerned after the 1-4 start and half-kiddingly suggested he might need to make a major adjustment.
"It sounded like I needed to start looking for a house somewhere else after five games," the coach said. "I knew we had the three games in Texas and we found out we had two other teams (Seattle and Phoenix) in that six-game stretch that were pretty good, too.
"How do I put this delicately? (The criticism) was absurd."
The Kings started a seven-game winning streak at Phoenix.
"The anticipation (was) that we were going to lose (at) Phoenix," Adelman said. "But after we won seven, I didn't see any multi-year contract come my way, so it kind of should be a little more even-keel. Let's see what happens. Let's see how the thing plays out after we get home for a while and now we've leveled off."
Christie said his team has shown heart.
"I didn't really take (criticism) badly because I understand we lost a lot of pieces," the veteran guard said. "We were off to a slow start, guys were hurt. ... It didn't look good. But that's the sign of a champion. Somebody who stays the course, stays strong, keeps persevering and ultimately, hopefully, we'll end up with that ring."
Kings have plenty of motivation
The only loss in their previous 13 games was against Minnesota last month at Arco Arena.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, December 10, 2004
MINNEAPOLIS - The Kings have no bench.
Peja Stojakovic wants out. He and Chris Webber aren't getting along.
The Kings are going to miss Vlade Divac.
Ownership has not given coach Rick Adelman any contractual backing for next season.
The Kings are done.
Those words swirled when the Kings started the NBA season 1-4.
In true holiday spirit, the Kings say, "Bah, humbug."
The Kings simply do not care what anybody says about them or their chances of winning an NBA title this season.
They believe they can do it, and that's that. It does not matter to them if they no longer are the 'in' pick of the experts.
They'll enter tonight's game at the Target Center against the Minnesota Timberwolves on a five-game winning streak and as winners of 12 of their past 13 games to start this three-game swing through the Midwest.
Since Nov. 10, the Kings' only loss has been to these Timberwolves at Arco Arena on Nov. 28.
Minnesota has won four straight regular-season games against the Kings and eliminated them from last season's Western Conference semifinals 4-3.
The Kings allowed a season-high point total in their 121-110 loss to the T-wolves last month. Kings coach Rick Adelman said his team must do a better job defending an extremely potent and versatile offense.
"These guys handled us pretty good at our place," Adelman said. "That's all the motivation you need. They are the only team to beat us at home, the only team to beat us in the last 13 games."
Then there is the ultimate motivation and goal of trying to win an elusive title. It's a concept the Kings have maintained their focus upon regardless of what has been said about them and by whom it has been said.
"No question, in years past, it's been something that was put on us at the beginning of the year," Kings guard Doug Christie said. "Whereas, your (regular-season) record necessarily needed to reflect (a team's championship quality).
"That could still be the outcome, but I don't think everybody is looking at us that way. Once you get to the playoffs, as you know, you get on a roll and anybody can make it happen, and that's our mind-set.
"Play the season as hard as we can, get as good as we can as far as execution, rebounding and defense and then once the playoffs hit, go at it full-bore."
Adelman said he was a bit concerned after the 1-4 start and half-kiddingly suggested he might need to make a major adjustment.
"It sounded like I needed to start looking for a house somewhere else after five games," the coach said. "I knew we had the three games in Texas and we found out we had two other teams (Seattle and Phoenix) in that six-game stretch that were pretty good, too.
"How do I put this delicately? (The criticism) was absurd."
The Kings started a seven-game winning streak at Phoenix.
"The anticipation (was) that we were going to lose (at) Phoenix," Adelman said. "But after we won seven, I didn't see any multi-year contract come my way, so it kind of should be a little more even-keel. Let's see what happens. Let's see how the thing plays out after we get home for a while and now we've leveled off."
Christie said his team has shown heart.
"I didn't really take (criticism) badly because I understand we lost a lot of pieces," the veteran guard said. "We were off to a slow start, guys were hurt. ... It didn't look good. But that's the sign of a champion. Somebody who stays the course, stays strong, keeps persevering and ultimately, hopefully, we'll end up with that ring."
