Kings' heart missing strong beat

[EmKingsFan4]

Kings' heart missing strong beat

Brian Skinner sits out with a stomach virus, and a third-quarter run wraps it up for Detroit.

By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, March 31, 2005


AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The Kings showed tremendous consistency during their 99-82 loss to the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.



In falling to sixth place in the Western Conference playoff race, the Kings couldn't make open shots, couldn't defend drives to the basket, couldn't handle the ball against aggressive defensive pressure.

And the Kings couldn't come up with enough heart to make a game of it against an opponent that was ripe for the taking.

The Pistons had dropped four of their previous five games, then lost their starting point guard when Chauncey Billups picked up two technical fouls with 2.8 seconds left in the first half.

With consistency like that, who needs the playoffs?

Kings coach Rick Adelman said he believed his team played hard but couldn't make shots.

Granted, the Kings were without center Brian Skinner, who had a stomach virus and didn't accompany the team to the arena. And the Kings did shoot poorly, making 27 of 69 field-goal attempts (39.1 percent) and just 3 of 17 from three-point range.

But on a night like that, a team with aspirations of competing seriously in the playoffs might have responded to its poor shooting by playing harder and more aggressively. Instead, the Kings kept waiting for the next shot to fall. And as their bus drove out of The Palace, they still were waiting.

The Kings missed 15 of their 20 shots in the first quarter and failed to make a field goal during the last 6:26 of the game.

But after scoring just 11 points in the first period, a season low for any quarter this season, and trailing by 17 points thrice in the second, the Kings were down only 46-42 at halftime.

"I thought the big key was them getting out to that (12-point) lead at the start of the third quarter," Adelman said. "We couldn't get enough stops."

That was partly because at times, the Kings played so soft defensively.

There were possessions when pressure on the ball didn't exist, or perimeter players put the ball on the floor and drove past Mike Bibby or Cuttino Mobley or Peja Stojakovic and continued unimpeded to the rim. No Kings big man came over to try to block a shot or take a charge, or even maybe throw a bit of fear into the Piston handling with the ball.

The result? Poor defense on the perimeter and poor defense on the interior.

"It was one of those nights," said Stojakovic, who missed each of his six three-point attempts and made just 5 of 14 shots on the way to 15 points. "I don't think I made a jump shot."

Kings forward Kenny Thomas grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds but scored only nine points.

"We didn't play any defense, and we came out flat," Thomas said. "I don't have an answer for why we came out flat, but I know it's a good thing we have another game (Friday night) against Cleveland."

Bibby said his team knows the Pistons are a good halfcourt defensive squad and that the Kings needed to run the ball more.

"I think we could have done that more," Bibby said.

Of course, it's difficult to run without clearing the ball off the defensive boards. That was a difficult chore with the Pistons' Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince each grabbing three offensive rebounds.

Ben Wallace scored 19 points and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. He was averaging just 8.9 points but made 7 of 10 shots, and more amazingly, 5 of 6 free throws. He had been shooting 41.1 percent from the line.

Only the San Antonio Spurs allow fewer points per game than Detroit. The Kings scored only three second-chance points and missed 42 of their 69 shots. It's quite possible that working a little harder might help

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12649550p-13502963c.html

 

[SCKingsfan]

A flat team - needs something

Lack of focus and comraderie

I was at the game in Denver last week and the game in Auburn Hills last night[BTW what a weak set up in AH- by game time only 1/2 the seats are filled and no real noise - so many corporate seats and people don't show up until later. No real energy in the stadium.] Last night I sat right behind the Kings bench and there was just no energy - you could see it in the warm-ups--no intensity and no visible leadership. The team just looked depleted and lackluster - which makes some sense given what's developed this season, but it was sad to see live. Bibby is a leader on the floor and Mobley tries hard to be one off the floor, but it was clear that comraderie and the one-team-one-vision, play-as-a-unit type of interaction just wasn't there. In both these road games they've looked lost, hoping that the shots fall or else. This is not the Kings I've known. It's possible that things will change if Brad and/or Bobby return, but at this point I'm just hoping they enjoy playing the rest of the season; it will at least make them more fun to watch.

Sorry for such a downer post, but it was just my impression of their non-Arco demeanor from the road.

 

[HndsmCelt]

You know if the team had been palying with thier starting center, or even the back up center, or even if the third sting center had been in decent shape and not sick him self this article might have some grounding in reality. Sorry with the line up the Kings put on the floor last night they would have been doing well to beat Atlanta, so "having heart" in a game against the defending champs on their home court just does not seem to be the issue. Perhaps a better thesis for criticism/braggin would be "Size Does Matter"

 

[kingsfannPDX]

nah, i agree with SCKingsfan. the kings didn't show any heart. when people go down, others most step up. sure we were outsized but it would be nice to see just a bit more effort with just nine games to go before playoffs.

 

[VF21]

nah, i agree with SCKingsfan. the kings didn't show any heart. when people go down, others most step up. sure we were outsized but it would be nice to see just a bit more effort with just nine games to go before playoffs.

Sorry, but I agree entirely with Celt.

A LOT has happened to this team this year and they've continued to fight on. Sooner or later, however, there comes a time when you're simply mentally and emotionally unable to do so any longer. They've been trying to build a dynamic with Skinner on the floor in place of Brad. When Skinner wasn't able to play last night, I think it was simply the straw that broke the camel's back...at least for last night.

It's real easy for a few people around here to keep talking about the Kings not having any heart. Sorry. But I'm not buying it. The vast majority of NBA teams would have rolled over and played dead long before now if they had gone through what this team has gone through lately.

Not have heart? They have TONS of heart. Unfortunately, what they don't have is any more top caliber players sitting on the bench to come in when still another one isn't able to play.

 

[Packt]

Heart can make up for a lack of size, but neither was on the floor last night.

 

[kingsfannPDX]

Sorry, but I agree entirely with Celt.



The vast majority of NBA teams would have rolled over and played dead long before now if they had gone through what this team has gone through lately.

no need for an apology. so you're saying that the vast majority of teams in the NBA give-up once some injuries or something bad happens to their team. gosh what a bunch of jerks. i always knew i was watching and supporting the wrong sport. well at least i can feel good knowing that the small minority of those players that don't give up actually somehow all play for the kings which happens to be my favorite team. i guess i'll keep watching.

 

[bigbadred00]

you obviously missed the David Robinson less Spurs of years back or New Orleans this year. It happens all the time. I'm suprised the Kings have this many wins considering all that has happened.

 

[G_M]

I thought the Kings played pretty hard. They couldn't make shots, missed layups and were generally out gunned.

The reality for the Kings is they lack a margin of error against most teams. In other words they haver to play a near perfect game to be the upper echelon teams. It's hard to do that on a consistent basis. It's even more difficult with a depleted roster.

 

[iheartBrad]

I agree that they did play hard and did really try but nothing was really going well...their defense was soft...they were constantly missing shots (a lot of in and outs--that made me absolutely crazy)...and still after getting down big they did manage to keep scrapping and scapping never got over the hump...but they did try...and to whoever said it you are right a lot of teams would have been completely buried by halftime...but even though things were going right they didn't look like they were worried as if they knew they'd get back into the game and at least make a game of it...honestly once i found out that Skinner was out my expectations took a nose dive...and i think they might have felt the same way...its not always the case cuz they've played without Brian before and they won (given it was too Portland by hey)...so maybe this time it was like VF said the straw that broke the camels back...at least for last night....

I look forward to seeing them bounce back tomorrown night in Cleveland on ESPN no less

GO KINGS!!

 

[VF21]

no need for an apology. so you're saying that the vast majority of teams in the NBA give-up once some injuries or something bad happens to their team. gosh what a bunch of jerks. i always knew i was watching and supporting the wrong sport. well at least i can feel good knowing that the small minority of those players that don't give up actually somehow all play for the kings which happens to be my favorite team. i guess i'll keep watching.

I don't know what team you've been watching or maybe up there in Portland you don't get the news.

1. Controversy about whether Webber should have been integrated back into the lineup the way he was.
2. Webber's ill-advised comments after the Kings' departure from the playoffs.
3. Rumors of strife amongst team members.
4. Peja's VERY PUBLIC and ill-advised request/demand for a trade.
5. More crap about Webber v. Peja.
6. Bobby's injury.
7. Doug's trade.
8. More crap about Webber v. Peja.
9. Peja's back problems.
10. Brad's leg problem #1.
11. Still more Webber/Peja crap.
12. Webber's trade.
13. Brad's broken leg.
14. Bibby's nagging foot problem that he's played through.
15. Bibby's hyper-extended knee that he's played through.
16. Cat's lingering groin pull that he's played through.
17. Peja's lackluster performance with mere hints of what could/should be.
18. More injuries to new guys, making the rotation even shorter.

You may think those are all minor and that's fine.

Personally, as someone who has watched the ups and downs of this team since 1985, I think the combination THIS YEAR has been particularly hard on the team. Can you name ANY OTHER TEAM in the league that has traded two of its five starters mid-year for what were generally perceived to be lesser-value players (I'm talking about initial perception, and not about the ultimate wisdom of the trade) and continued to be a top elite contender? And, in addition, had to contend with a third starter who was performing at a much lower level than previously AND a fourth starter who is now sidelined most likely for the rest of the season?

Come back with the cute, snide retorts all you like. It doesn't change the facts.

I love this team but I'm not sitting here with blinders ignoring the roadblocks they current have to try and navigate.

 

[KP]

1. Controversy about whether Webber should have been integrated back into the lineup the way he was.
2. Webber's ill-advised comments after the Kings' departure from the playoffs.
3. Rumors of strife amongst team members.
4. Peja's VERY PUBLIC and ill-advised request/demand for a trade.
5. More crap about Webber v. Peja.
6. Bobby's injury.
7. Doug's trade.
8. More crap about Webber v. Peja.
9. Peja's back problems.
10. Brad's leg problem #1.
11. Still more Webber/Peja crap.
12. Webber's trade.
13. Brad's broken leg.
14. Bibby's nagging foot problem that he's played through.
15. Bibby's hyper-extended knee that he's played through.
16. Cat's lingering groin pull that he's played through.
17. Peja's lackluster performance with mere hints of what could/should be.
18. More injuries to new guys, making the rotation even shorter.

That pretty much sums it up.

 

[kingsfannPDX]

I don't know what team you've been watching or maybe up there in Portland you don't get the news.

1. Controversy about whether Webber should have been integrated back into the lineup the way he was.
2. Webber's ill-advised comments after the Kings' departure from the playoffs.
3. Rumors of strife amongst team members.
4. Peja's VERY PUBLIC and ill-advised request/demand for a trade.
5. More crap about Webber v. Peja.
6. Bobby's injury.
7. Doug's trade.
8. More crap about Webber v. Peja.
9. Peja's back problems.
10. Brad's leg problem #1.
11. Still more Webber/Peja crap.
12. Webber's trade.
13. Brad's broken leg.
14. Bibby's nagging foot problem that he's played through.
15. Bibby's hyper-extended knee that he's played through.
16. Cat's lingering groin pull that he's played through.
17. Peja's lackluster performance with mere hints of what could/should be.
18. More injuries to new guys, making the rotation even shorter.

You may think those are all minor and that's fine.

Personally, as someone who has watched the ups and downs of this team since 1985, I think the combination THIS YEAR has been particularly hard on the team. Can you name ANY OTHER TEAM in the league that has traded two of its five starters mid-year for what were generally perceived to be lesser-value players (I'm talking about initial perception, and not about the ultimate wisdom of the trade) and continued to be a top elite contender? And, in addition, had to contend with a third starter who was performing at a much lower level than previously AND a fourth starter who is now sidelined most likely for the rest of the season?

Come back with the cute, snide retorts all you like. It doesn't change the facts.

I love this team but I'm not sitting here with blinders ignoring the roadblocks they current have to try and navigate.

nope. they don't come up here to portland and tell us the news. and somehow i've missed everything you've listed visiting this forum for the past 12 months. so thanks for making such a neat list. i had no idea any of that happened. and no i don't think those are MINOR. i said that i was glad that the MINORITY of players who don't give-up in the NBA when bad things happen all somehow play for the kings!! since you said the vast majority of teams play dead when going through as much crap as the kings have. the main point i was trying to make along with martin mcneal was that there wasn't much effort in last night's game. and after reading, it seems like alot of board members do think there was effort last night. so whatever it's in the eye of the beholder.

 

[VF21]

kingsfannPDX - For the record, I don't always agree with McNeal either. It's real easy to talk about a lack of effort when all you do is sit behind a keyboard and talk about it. While the Kings were certainly off last night and didn't bring much to the game, I simply question the need of a few members around here to always attribute it to a lack of heart.

 

[kingsfannPDX]

It's real easy to talk about a lack of effort when all you do is sit behind a keyboard and talk about it.

huh?? it's just as easy yet more time consuming to post lists about the kings misfortunes. i guess that's your way of making excuses for what was IMO a poor effort by the kings.

 

[Kingsgurl]

Maybe it's the terminology that is offensive? Lack of heart sounds like they are a bunch of quiters. How about lack of intensity? or energy? or focus? Whatever you want to call it, there is no debating the difference between Monday night and last night.

 

[VF21]

huh?? it's just as easy yet more time consuming to post lists about the kings misfortunes. i guess that's your way of making excuses for what was IMO a poor effort by the kings.

Oh, grow up. I was talking about Marty McNeal and his choice of the word "heart."
----------
I think, as KG has just pointed out, it was the term that bothered me the most. Focus? Sure. Energy? Not a question. But heart? Wrong word and it conveys, IMHO, the wrong message.

 

[Warhawk]

I think you forgot to mention the ill-conceived China trip and the negative effects that had on the start of the season. I think that the trip really threw the team off by eliminating a whole bunch of practice time. Not to mention following it up with the Texas Triangle to start the season.... With the injuries and all, the last year has been brutal on this team.

 

[kingsfannPDX]

Oh, grow up. I was talking about Marty McNeal and his choice of the word "heart."
----------
I think, as KG has just pointed out, it was the term that bothered me the most. Focus? Sure. Energy? Not a question. But heart? Wrong word and it conveys, IMHO, the wrong message.

the wrong message?? and what is the message he should be portraying? that even though they didn't give much effort last night don't worry fans. this team has HEART. just look what they've overcome this season. most teams would have just given up if it happened to them.

i'm not buying that. there are plenty of cases in sports where teams have gone through as much adversity as the kings. sometimes all that's left to play for is heart and pride. if you don't put forth your best EFFORT, people are going to question your heart.

 

[Bricklayer]

i'm not buying that. there are plenty of cases in sports where teams have gone through as much adversity as the kings.

Yes, but rarely do those teams soar through it. This has been a brutal, exhausting campaign for the Kings. Mucho adversity, and then having the heart of the team torn out midway to boot. We lost all three of the team's captains in the space of 8 months, have incredible roster turnover, blown call controversies, All Star snubs, injuries galore as usual, a suddenly shaky fanbase, major arena questions, a star player going through the motions, an exhausted last of the mohiccans leader/passer who leads the league in minutes...this is a rebuilding/retooling year in all but name. And we've been trying to do it on the fly. It comes as no surprise to me at least that the chemistry is not going to be there, the focus is going to be on and off, and its going to be extraordinarily hard to get everybody pulling in the same direction on a nightly basis. There is a reason teams with massive turnover rarely make any noise, and we're watching it.

 

[PixelPusher]

1. Controversy about whether Webber should have been integrated back into the lineup the way he was.
2. Webber's ill-advised comments after the Kings' departure from the playoffs.
3. Rumors of strife amongst team members.
4. Peja's VERY PUBLIC and ill-advised request/demand for a trade.
5. More crap about Webber v. Peja.
6. Bobby's injury.
7. Doug's trade.
8. More crap about Webber v. Peja.
9. Peja's back problems.
10. Brad's leg problem #1.
11. Still more Webber/Peja crap.
12. Webber's trade.
13. Brad's broken leg.
14. Bibby's nagging foot problem that he's played through.
15. Bibby's hyper-extended knee that he's played through.
16. Cat's lingering groin pull that he's played through.
17. Peja's lackluster performance with mere hints of what could/should be.
18. More injuries to new guys, making the rotation even shorter.

I Bolded the 3 most critical factors that contribute to how this team is playing together. In a sense, it's like the Kings had to start over their season twice (granted, more so with the Webber trade than the Christie trade). Add to that Miller's broken leg and those 3 things alone provide a REASON, not excuse, for their struggles this year.

 

[Warhawk]

Yes, but rarely do those teams soar through it. This has been a brutal, exhausting campaign for the Kings. Mucho adversity, and then having the heart of the team torn out midway to boot. We lost all three of the team's captains in the space of 8 months, have incredible roster turnover, blown call controversies, All Star snubs, injuries galore as usual, a suddenly shaky fanbase, major arena questions, a star player going through the motions, an exhausted last of the mohiccans leader/passer who leads the league in minutes...this is a rebuilding/retooling year in all but name. And we've been trying to do it on the fly. It comes as no surprise to me at least that the chemistry is not going to be there, the focus is going to be on and off, and its going to be extraordinarily hard to get everybody pulling in the same direction on a nightly basis. There is a reason teams with massive turnover rarely make any noise, and we're watching it.

Well put.

 

[SCKingsfan]

...injuries galore as usual, a suddenly shaky fanbase, major arena questions, a star player going through the motions, an exhausted last of the mohiccans leader/passer who leads the league in minutes...this is a rebuilding/retooling year in all but name. And we've been trying to do it on the fly. It comes as no surprise to me at least that the chemistry is not going to be there, the focus is going to be on and off, and its going to be extraordinarily hard to get everybody pulling in the same direction on a nightly basis. There is a reason teams with massive turnover rarely make any noise, and we're watching it.

I would agree with this. As I said, the game at Denver (layup fest) but particularly at Detroit lacked chemistry, energy and focus - the intensity just wasn't visible from the tipoff. I wouldn't question their "heart" and desire to win, it's the "everybody pulling in the same direction" that has seemed to be missing in these road games. But, of course, it has to do with all the things mentioned above, and yes it's frustrating when you have Prince, Hamilton, Wallace, etc going hard to the hole with no available kings capable of challenging or altering their shot [Tag maybe, but that's when they settled for the 12 ft uncontested jumper]. That can be disheartening to a team. It's clear just how essential Skinner has become to this club. Not sure that would have been enough with Detroit, but the dynamic would have been different. I just hope they'll keep their heads up, struggle through the rest of the season and hopefully get Brad and Bobby back in time for the PO, so they can show a bit of what they're capable of and take that into next year....

 

[EmKingsFan4]

Maybe it's the terminology that is offensive? Lack of heart sounds like they are a bunch of quiters. How about lack of intensity? or energy? or focus? Whatever you want to call it, there is no debating the difference between Monday night and last night.

You are right about that! I don't agree with anyone who says they have "lack of heart" because that's just not true. On the LONG list of things I love and respect about this team their heart is at the top...we have been through so many changes as a team this year and the effect of that is we aren't going to look like the same team that we were before >>duh!<< We are gonna have "off" games but that doesn't mean we've lost our heart.

 

[KingKong]

VF21, you forgot to mention even after the Webber trade..... still more crap about Webb vs. Peja.