Kings notes: Kings won't concede to Spurs

[Twix]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12173062p-13043127c.html



Kings notes: Kings won't concede to Spurs

San Antonio 'doesn't have our number,' Sacramento coach Rick Adelman says.

By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, January 29, 2005



HOUSTON - Three losses in four games against the San Antonio Spurs this season have the Kings answering plenty of questions about the balance of power in the West. Sacramento lost 90-80 in San Antonio on Thursday, four days after a 30-point blowout at Arco Arena.

Kings coach Rick Adelman told one San Antonio reporter that he did not feel his squad had been overwhelmed by the Spurs.

"I don't think they have our number," Adelman said incredulously. "Obviously, in the regular season, they did. They won three out of four. But we've been swept by teams in the regular season, and then come playoff time, it's been a different story.

"You have to go out and play in April and beyond."

Adelman said the Spurs are the best team in the NBA right now.

"I don't believe in somebody having our number," he said. "Maybe if they had beaten us by 30 again, then I might buy into that."

The Kings played Thursday without All-Star forward Peja Stojakovic (back spasms), Maurice Evans (strained groin) and Bobby Jackson (wrist surgery).

Odds are Adelman would like to bring those three into the fray and give the Spurs starting center Rasho Nesterovic (sprained ankle) and see how the chips fall.

Webber caught a similar line of questions during post-game interviews. The same reporter wanted to know if Webber was happier because the margin of defeat was smaller than Sunday's debacle.

"We're not happier just because it was closer," he said. "You all, the media, put a lot into that 30 number, like we had everybody healthy. Not to take anything away from them. They played great and they won."

Cuttino Mobley said he only wanted the Kings to receive a little respect for their defensive effort.

"(The Spurs) kind of have that reputation for grabbing and flopping, that so-called great defense, and I respect that," Mobley said. "But the officials are supposed to pay more attention to the game, not the fact that they are that type of team."

About the writer:

• The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.

 

[HndsmCelt]

Good! Before I give the /Spurs props for being the better team I want to see them play the Kings at full strenthm my slef.

 

[iheartBrad]

"I don't think they have our number," Adelman said incredulously. "Obviously, in the regular season, they did. They won three out of four. But we've been swept by teams in the regular season, and then come playoff time, it's been a different story.

"You have to go out and play in April and beyond."

Adelman said the Spurs are the best team in the NBA right now.

"I don't believe in somebody having our number," he said. "Maybe if they had beaten us by 30 again, then I might buy into that."

I love that he said that.

 

[OurYear]

The spurs are a great team but there is no reason at all to think they are unbeatable. Dallas had our number twice remember? Oh wait nevermind. Just give us a healthy roster come playoffs and let's see what this team is really capable of. Good things folks

 

[Evenstar]

i seem to recall the kings lost 3 of 4 to the mavs last year, and beat them in 5 games in the playoffs.

now i'm *NOT* saying that would happen if the kings played the spurs in the playoffs, just some food for thought

 

[4cwebb]

The good (or bad) thing about this hypothesis is that the Kings have never met the Spurs in the playoffs, so it's not as if people can point to a disappointing playoff defeat (see TWolves from last year) as a reason for the Spurs having the Kings' number.

And, while winning one out of four isn't great, it's much better, imho, than getting swept by that team. First loss to Spurs was during the early funk, then the Kings won a closely contested game at home, for the third game the Kings laid a big egg, and then the Kings battled in the fourth game and lost. Doesn't indicate to me that the Spurs have the Kings' number. They've just played better than the Kings over those four games in total, but that's not to say that the Kings couldn't turn it around in a fifth, sixth and seventh games and take the next three.

 

[KP]

The good (or bad) thing about this hypothesis is that the Kings have never met the Spurs in the playoffs, so it's not as if people can point to a disappointing playoff defeat (see TWolves from last year) as a reason for the Spurs having the Kings' number.

And, while winning one out of four isn't great, it's much better, imho, than getting swept by that team. First loss to Spurs was during the early funk, then the Kings won a closely contested game at home, for the third game the Kings laid a big egg, and then the Kings battled in the fourth game and lost. Doesn't indicate to me that the Spurs have the Kings' number. They've just played better than the Kings over those four games in total, but that's not to say that the Kings couldn't turn it around in a fifth, sixth and seventh games and take the next three.

Good post and you know what I say, "F the Spurs"

 

[Evenstar]

The good (or bad) thing about this hypothesis is that the Kings have never met the Spurs in the playoffs, so it's not as if people can point to a disappointing playoff defeat (see TWolves from last year) as a reason for the Spurs having the Kings' number.

And, while winning one out of four isn't great, it's much better, imho, than getting swept by that team. First loss to Spurs was during the early funk, then the Kings won a closely contested game at home, for the third game the Kings laid a big egg, and then the Kings battled in the fourth game and lost. Doesn't indicate to me that the Spurs have the Kings' number. They've just played better than the Kings over those four games in total, but that's not to say that the Kings couldn't turn it around in a fifth, sixth and seventh games and take the next three.

i agree.

also: no peja last game, no bobby in the last 3 games, and no mo last game. on the flip side, the spurs had no rasho in the last 2 games, and ho horry in the blowout game.

i'd love to see these 2 teams going at it with everyone healthy.