sacbee
Kings still in search of game
They'll resume the hunt for answers Saturday night at division-leading Phoenix.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, November 12, 2004
PHOENIX - Since the Maloofs are into many types of entertainment, it's little wonder their professional basketball team seems to be auditioning for a new reality show, "Where is Rock Bottom?"
An early look at the team's schedule revealed five road games among the first six - and a potential for worry. A 1-4 start has changed worry to concern.
All of the defeats have come on the road, and another road game awaits: Here Saturday night against the revitalized and Pacific Division-leading Phoenix Suns (4-1).
Sunday, the Kings begin a five-game homestand at Arco Arena that looms as a crucial get-well stretch for a team in search of itself.
The Kings completed the 2003-2004 season without losing three straight, and started this campaign with three consecutive losses.
Now come unconfirmed reports from ESPN.com about an altercation on a team plane last week between point guard Mike Bibby and coach Rick Adelman.
Bibby said Thursday there is no truth to the allegation and that he had no idea where or how the report originated.
"Where do people get this stuff from?" Bibby asked. "How can they write stuff like that that never happened?"
Moreover, the image of Bibby and Adelman having a confrontation goes against the noted non-confrontational personalities of both. --that was what i was thinking of, too, when i read the insider article
But perhaps it's a sign - with the Kings performing far below their capabilities - they will be the focus of more scrutiny, good or bad.
"From sugar to (bleep) is where we'll be if we don't get our stuff together in a hurry," Kings guard Bobby Jackson said.
Certainly more disappointing than the painful and sometimes embarrassing losses themselves has been the manner in which they've occurred.
The Kings have shot just 41.4 percent (175 of 423) from the field, but the ability to make shots comes and goes even for a team that led the NBA in field-goal accuracy last season.
Adelman cited his team's lack of offensive execution as a major factor in its 33 percent field-goal shooting in Wednesday night's loss in Seattle.
"We were so poor offensively," he said. "We never went (beyond) one pass.Wenever really had any energy or quickness, and (still) we were down (just) 14 at halftime....We have to come with a better effort.
"We took the first (three-pointer) that was there, and we didn't make anything early," said Adelman, whose team didn't make anything late, either (1 of 13 from three-point range against the Sonics).
"As the (first) half went on, wedidn't make them work to guard us," Adelman said. "We didn't run any hard cuts, and it was really disappointing."
Excuses are scarce for a team that has been clearly and admittedly outworked in three of its five games. Only in the Houston loss and Toronto win did the Kings match their opponents' intensity. In losing to the Sonics, the Kings were outrebounded 54-39 by a team that is not extremely big or considered physical. The Kings will practice today in Sacramento before heading to Phoenix to meet a Phoenix team that demolished them in the final preseason game at Arco and figures to greatly test their defense. The Suns are aggressive, quick and athletic and are led by point guard Steve Nash (12.2 points and 10.2 assists a game).
Kings still in search of game
They'll resume the hunt for answers Saturday night at division-leading Phoenix.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, November 12, 2004
PHOENIX - Since the Maloofs are into many types of entertainment, it's little wonder their professional basketball team seems to be auditioning for a new reality show, "Where is Rock Bottom?"
An early look at the team's schedule revealed five road games among the first six - and a potential for worry. A 1-4 start has changed worry to concern.
All of the defeats have come on the road, and another road game awaits: Here Saturday night against the revitalized and Pacific Division-leading Phoenix Suns (4-1).
Sunday, the Kings begin a five-game homestand at Arco Arena that looms as a crucial get-well stretch for a team in search of itself.
The Kings completed the 2003-2004 season without losing three straight, and started this campaign with three consecutive losses.
Now come unconfirmed reports from ESPN.com about an altercation on a team plane last week between point guard Mike Bibby and coach Rick Adelman.
Bibby said Thursday there is no truth to the allegation and that he had no idea where or how the report originated.
"Where do people get this stuff from?" Bibby asked. "How can they write stuff like that that never happened?"
Moreover, the image of Bibby and Adelman having a confrontation goes against the noted non-confrontational personalities of both. --that was what i was thinking of, too, when i read the insider article
But perhaps it's a sign - with the Kings performing far below their capabilities - they will be the focus of more scrutiny, good or bad.
"From sugar to (bleep) is where we'll be if we don't get our stuff together in a hurry," Kings guard Bobby Jackson said.
Certainly more disappointing than the painful and sometimes embarrassing losses themselves has been the manner in which they've occurred.
The Kings have shot just 41.4 percent (175 of 423) from the field, but the ability to make shots comes and goes even for a team that led the NBA in field-goal accuracy last season.
Adelman cited his team's lack of offensive execution as a major factor in its 33 percent field-goal shooting in Wednesday night's loss in Seattle.
"We were so poor offensively," he said. "We never went (beyond) one pass.Wenever really had any energy or quickness, and (still) we were down (just) 14 at halftime....We have to come with a better effort.
"We took the first (three-pointer) that was there, and we didn't make anything early," said Adelman, whose team didn't make anything late, either (1 of 13 from three-point range against the Sonics).
"As the (first) half went on, wedidn't make them work to guard us," Adelman said. "We didn't run any hard cuts, and it was really disappointing."
Excuses are scarce for a team that has been clearly and admittedly outworked in three of its five games. Only in the Houston loss and Toronto win did the Kings match their opponents' intensity. In losing to the Sonics, the Kings were outrebounded 54-39 by a team that is not extremely big or considered physical. The Kings will practice today in Sacramento before heading to Phoenix to meet a Phoenix team that demolished them in the final preseason game at Arco and figures to greatly test their defense. The Suns are aggressive, quick and athletic and are led by point guard Steve Nash (12.2 points and 10.2 assists a game).
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