http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12660814p-13514109c.html
Kings notes: Adelman's 2-3 matchup zone does a number on Cavs
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, April 2, 2005
CLEVELAND - Before this season, it was more likely that you could kick Kings coach Rick Adelman in the shins, and he'd say, "Thank you. Please do that again," than he would consistently turn to a zone defense.
But many things have changed during the course of this season, and one has been the coach's aversion to zone.
There are few games in which he fails to use it, if only for a possession here or there but often for longer stretches. Adelman's use of the 2-3 matchup zone Friday night played almost as pivotal a role in the 128-109 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers as the players he used.
The Cavaliers weren't able to burn the zone with their outside shooting, and the Kings did their job in the paint.
The Kings, by any measure of the statistic, are one of the NBA's worst rebounding teams. But they out-rebounded Cleveland 18-2 in the second quarter and used that domination to start fast breaks.
"It felt great to be out there on the court," said Kings guard Eddie House, who has played consistently well for the last month. "We went into the zone, and Cleveland couldn't make any shots for a while. We rebounded the ball and got on the break, and then tried to push the ball down their throats."
Corliss Williamson scored 12 of his 17 points during the second quarter, and House scored all of his five in nine minutes of that period. Maurice Evans and Darius Songaila were the mainstays on the boards with seven and five, respectively, in the second quarter. And Cuttino Mobley scored seven points as the Kings made 13 of 18 field-goal attempts and hit all of their 13 free throws.
At the other end, the Cavaliers made just 6 of 19 field-goal attempts (31.6 percent). Despite scoring just four points and not grabbing any rebounds in the second, Cavaliers star forward LeBron James finished with 35 points, eight rebounds and nine assists but committed seven turnovers.
Petrie sees preps, meets Kings - Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie watched the McDonald's Classic in South Bend, Ind., then came to Cleveland to attend Friday's game. Said Petrie: "As usual, (the high school kids) practiced offense for two days, and then when the game started, didn't use any of it. But there are some really athletic kids who obviously have a long way to go."
Kings notes: Adelman's 2-3 matchup zone does a number on Cavs
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, April 2, 2005
CLEVELAND - Before this season, it was more likely that you could kick Kings coach Rick Adelman in the shins, and he'd say, "Thank you. Please do that again," than he would consistently turn to a zone defense.
But many things have changed during the course of this season, and one has been the coach's aversion to zone.
There are few games in which he fails to use it, if only for a possession here or there but often for longer stretches. Adelman's use of the 2-3 matchup zone Friday night played almost as pivotal a role in the 128-109 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers as the players he used.
The Cavaliers weren't able to burn the zone with their outside shooting, and the Kings did their job in the paint.
The Kings, by any measure of the statistic, are one of the NBA's worst rebounding teams. But they out-rebounded Cleveland 18-2 in the second quarter and used that domination to start fast breaks.
"It felt great to be out there on the court," said Kings guard Eddie House, who has played consistently well for the last month. "We went into the zone, and Cleveland couldn't make any shots for a while. We rebounded the ball and got on the break, and then tried to push the ball down their throats."
Corliss Williamson scored 12 of his 17 points during the second quarter, and House scored all of his five in nine minutes of that period. Maurice Evans and Darius Songaila were the mainstays on the boards with seven and five, respectively, in the second quarter. And Cuttino Mobley scored seven points as the Kings made 13 of 18 field-goal attempts and hit all of their 13 free throws.
At the other end, the Cavaliers made just 6 of 19 field-goal attempts (31.6 percent). Despite scoring just four points and not grabbing any rebounds in the second, Cavaliers star forward LeBron James finished with 35 points, eight rebounds and nine assists but committed seven turnovers.
Petrie sees preps, meets Kings - Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie watched the McDonald's Classic in South Bend, Ind., then came to Cleveland to attend Friday's game. Said Petrie: "As usual, (the high school kids) practiced offense for two days, and then when the game started, didn't use any of it. But there are some really athletic kids who obviously have a long way to go."
