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Kings retreating, whining
Despite 27 offensive rebounds, they are pushed around by the Timberwolves.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, April 4, 2005
Games such as Sunday's 112-100 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves do not bode well for the Kings if they happen to qualify for the NBA playoffs, which begin later this month.
From the start of the game at Arco Arena to its conclusion, Minnesota was the more physical team, and Sacramento did not respond favorably.
Instead of taking what they were receiving and then returning the favor and some more, the Kings collectively retreated, whined and then allowed frustration to seep in.
Forget the technical fouls on Kenny Thomas and Cuttino Mobley, who coincidentally played perhaps his poorest all-around game with Sacramento.
From Mike Bibby to Peja Stojakovic and virtually everyone else, the Kings' performance was dismal.
"We were soft," said forward Corliss Williamson, who like every other King not named Maurice Evans or Eddie House had difficulty making shots.
"We were way too soft," Williamson said. "And that's not supposed to happen, especially on our home court."
Evans, in his first full NBA season, received his first legitimate chance to play against his former team. He said his current squad needs a mind-set adjustment.
It's not as though the Kings didn't exert the energy, especially during a first half in which they set an arena record with 20 offensive rebounds (they had 27 for the game). But many of those get-backs never turned into put-backs because of Minnesota's shot-blocking and shot-altering abilities.
A high number of offensive rebounds can be misleading because teams don't get that many unless they miss a lot of shots. Sacramento shot only 18 of 55 (32.7 percent) in the first half and 38 of 99 (38.4 percent) overall.
That's not always the worst thing, if you're dragging the opposition into the muck with you. But the Kings never showed a consistent ability to defend the Timberwolves, who shot 44 of 83 (53 percent) and committed only nine turnovers.
Without looking to score much, Kevin Garnett still finished with 30 points on 11-of-14 shooting and 8 of 10 from the line.
Michael Olowokandi scored 15 points in 24 minutes on 7 of 8 from the field, while Latrell Sprewell scored 23 and Sam Cassell added 13 of his 16 in the second quarter.
"I think after 75 games we've got to realize that officials cannot dictate the game, regardless if they making great calls or bad calls," Evans said. "I think officials will work with you. I felt as if I got fouled on a three-pointer, I told the official, he said he missed it and I got the next call.
"You have to keep a good rapport with the officials but keep playing hard, regardless. I feel you have to keep attacking and make the officials make calls. But it wasn't just the officials, it was our defense, I feel like, and our effort. We didn't match (Minnesota's) intensity."
It's a prevailing theme that the Kings usually defend better when they make shots. That was the case when their fourth-quarter run cut the Timberwolves' lead from 88-72 to 93-86 with 6:11 left. But Minnesota pulled away after a timeout, leaving the Kings with a magic number of three to clinch a playoff berth.
"If we keep this pace up, we're going to be beefing our way right out of the first round (of the playoffs), in my opinion," Evans said. "In the playoffs it's going to be extremely physical, and whoever we play is going to have home-court advantage. We're going to have to buckle down and get it done. We're going to have to take everything we want from this point on."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12671845p-13525017c.html
Despite 27 offensive rebounds, they are pushed around by the Timberwolves.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, April 4, 2005
Games such as Sunday's 112-100 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves do not bode well for the Kings if they happen to qualify for the NBA playoffs, which begin later this month.
From the start of the game at Arco Arena to its conclusion, Minnesota was the more physical team, and Sacramento did not respond favorably.
Instead of taking what they were receiving and then returning the favor and some more, the Kings collectively retreated, whined and then allowed frustration to seep in.
Forget the technical fouls on Kenny Thomas and Cuttino Mobley, who coincidentally played perhaps his poorest all-around game with Sacramento.
From Mike Bibby to Peja Stojakovic and virtually everyone else, the Kings' performance was dismal.
"We were soft," said forward Corliss Williamson, who like every other King not named Maurice Evans or Eddie House had difficulty making shots.
"We were way too soft," Williamson said. "And that's not supposed to happen, especially on our home court."
Evans, in his first full NBA season, received his first legitimate chance to play against his former team. He said his current squad needs a mind-set adjustment.
It's not as though the Kings didn't exert the energy, especially during a first half in which they set an arena record with 20 offensive rebounds (they had 27 for the game). But many of those get-backs never turned into put-backs because of Minnesota's shot-blocking and shot-altering abilities.
A high number of offensive rebounds can be misleading because teams don't get that many unless they miss a lot of shots. Sacramento shot only 18 of 55 (32.7 percent) in the first half and 38 of 99 (38.4 percent) overall.
That's not always the worst thing, if you're dragging the opposition into the muck with you. But the Kings never showed a consistent ability to defend the Timberwolves, who shot 44 of 83 (53 percent) and committed only nine turnovers.
Without looking to score much, Kevin Garnett still finished with 30 points on 11-of-14 shooting and 8 of 10 from the line.
Michael Olowokandi scored 15 points in 24 minutes on 7 of 8 from the field, while Latrell Sprewell scored 23 and Sam Cassell added 13 of his 16 in the second quarter.
"I think after 75 games we've got to realize that officials cannot dictate the game, regardless if they making great calls or bad calls," Evans said. "I think officials will work with you. I felt as if I got fouled on a three-pointer, I told the official, he said he missed it and I got the next call.
"You have to keep a good rapport with the officials but keep playing hard, regardless. I feel you have to keep attacking and make the officials make calls. But it wasn't just the officials, it was our defense, I feel like, and our effort. We didn't match (Minnesota's) intensity."
It's a prevailing theme that the Kings usually defend better when they make shots. That was the case when their fourth-quarter run cut the Timberwolves' lead from 88-72 to 93-86 with 6:11 left. But Minnesota pulled away after a timeout, leaving the Kings with a magic number of three to clinch a playoff berth.
"If we keep this pace up, we're going to be beefing our way right out of the first round (of the playoffs), in my opinion," Evans said. "In the playoffs it's going to be extremely physical, and whoever we play is going to have home-court advantage. We're going to have to buckle down and get it done. We're going to have to take everything we want from this point on."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12671845p-13525017c.html
