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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12345262p-13213044c.html
Kings notes: Songaila shakes off initial injury concern
Peja Stojakovic is hurting, ailing and doubtful for tonight's game at Chicago.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, February 15, 2005
CHICAGO - Darius Songaila was a bit concerned about his right knee at first when he landed awkwardly after challenging a jump shot by Boston's Mark Blount on Sunday.
"I wasn't scared," said Songaila, the only King to play in all 51 games. "I didn't hear or feel any pop, but I couldn't put any weight on it at first."
OAS_AD('Button20');Songaila, who suffered a bruise on the second-quarter play, returned to play five minutes into the second half.
Peja Stojakovic wasn't as fortunate. He is listed as doubtful for tonight's game against the Chicago Bulls after straining his right hamstring in the first quarter Sunday and feeling ill Monday.
Maurice Evans, who scored a career-high 17 points in 30 minutes Sunday, could replace Stojakovic in the starting lineup unless coach Rick Adelman goes with Matt Barnes.
Evans, whose major weakness allegedly was perimeter shooting, is hitting 41.2 percent from three-point range.
Challenging from behind - Atop the Western Conference are Phoenix and San Antonio with 12 losses each, Seattle with 14 and Dallas with 16.
Then come the Kings with 18 losses, not far ahead of Houston (21) and Memphis (22).
After Sacramento ended a four-game losing streak Sunday, Adelman said he has been keeping an eye on the Rockets and Grizzlies, both of whom have been surging the past few weeks.
"Those teams both have begun to play the way you thought they'd play," Adelman said. "That's what makes games like this so important. And there are about three other teams (the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota and Denver) that are capable of getting it going."
From the start of every season, Adelman's goal is just to make the playoffs. He doesn't worry about which seed.
"I think you have San Antonio and Phoenix who have separated themselves at the top, and then there is Seattle and Dallas and us in the next group, but Houston and Memphis are right there," Adelman said. "It's about winning as many as games as you can, no matter how you do it. And I think there are some teams with some favorable schedules ahead."
The Kings aren't one of those teams. Eight of their next nine games are on the road.
Bibby flubs on freebies - Mike Bibby has been rolling in his past six games, averaging 28.3 points. He's also shooting 56 percent (65 of 116) from the field and 57.7 percent (15 of 26) from three-point range in that span.
Amazingly, however, he is struggling at the free-throw line, hitting only 61 percent (25 of 41).
Bibby is a creature of habit who periodically likes to take a lot of attempts during his personal shooting sessions. That hasn't happened recently.
"Do you know the last time I got some shots up?" he said rhetorically. "Not since I rolled my (right) ankle against Denver (on Jan. 11)."
Et cetera - The Kings walked through a number of sets and situations Monday during a workout at Moody Bible College in downtown Chicago. They probably should have practiced inbounding, too. In the past three games, they have turned the ball over inbounding from the baseline. * Since missing four games from Jan. 30 to Feb. 4, Chris Webber has averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds and 9.4 assists in the last five games.
Kings notes: Songaila shakes off initial injury concern
Peja Stojakovic is hurting, ailing and doubtful for tonight's game at Chicago.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, February 15, 2005
CHICAGO - Darius Songaila was a bit concerned about his right knee at first when he landed awkwardly after challenging a jump shot by Boston's Mark Blount on Sunday.
"I wasn't scared," said Songaila, the only King to play in all 51 games. "I didn't hear or feel any pop, but I couldn't put any weight on it at first."
OAS_AD('Button20');Songaila, who suffered a bruise on the second-quarter play, returned to play five minutes into the second half.
Peja Stojakovic wasn't as fortunate. He is listed as doubtful for tonight's game against the Chicago Bulls after straining his right hamstring in the first quarter Sunday and feeling ill Monday.
Maurice Evans, who scored a career-high 17 points in 30 minutes Sunday, could replace Stojakovic in the starting lineup unless coach Rick Adelman goes with Matt Barnes.
Evans, whose major weakness allegedly was perimeter shooting, is hitting 41.2 percent from three-point range.
Challenging from behind - Atop the Western Conference are Phoenix and San Antonio with 12 losses each, Seattle with 14 and Dallas with 16.
Then come the Kings with 18 losses, not far ahead of Houston (21) and Memphis (22).
After Sacramento ended a four-game losing streak Sunday, Adelman said he has been keeping an eye on the Rockets and Grizzlies, both of whom have been surging the past few weeks.
"Those teams both have begun to play the way you thought they'd play," Adelman said. "That's what makes games like this so important. And there are about three other teams (the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota and Denver) that are capable of getting it going."
From the start of every season, Adelman's goal is just to make the playoffs. He doesn't worry about which seed.
"I think you have San Antonio and Phoenix who have separated themselves at the top, and then there is Seattle and Dallas and us in the next group, but Houston and Memphis are right there," Adelman said. "It's about winning as many as games as you can, no matter how you do it. And I think there are some teams with some favorable schedules ahead."
The Kings aren't one of those teams. Eight of their next nine games are on the road.
Bibby flubs on freebies - Mike Bibby has been rolling in his past six games, averaging 28.3 points. He's also shooting 56 percent (65 of 116) from the field and 57.7 percent (15 of 26) from three-point range in that span.
Amazingly, however, he is struggling at the free-throw line, hitting only 61 percent (25 of 41).
Bibby is a creature of habit who periodically likes to take a lot of attempts during his personal shooting sessions. That hasn't happened recently.
"Do you know the last time I got some shots up?" he said rhetorically. "Not since I rolled my (right) ankle against Denver (on Jan. 11)."
Et cetera - The Kings walked through a number of sets and situations Monday during a workout at Moody Bible College in downtown Chicago. They probably should have practiced inbounding, too. In the past three games, they have turned the ball over inbounding from the baseline. * Since missing four games from Jan. 30 to Feb. 4, Chris Webber has averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds and 9.4 assists in the last five games.
