Lowering the boom

[LMM]

Lowering the boom

Kings pour it on Sonics to avoid being swept in season series

By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, April 6, 2005

The way the Kings are going right now, a seven-game playoff series might be a good thing for them if they can receive a guarantee that they will shoot well in Game 1.



There is little doubt that if the Kings can shoot anywhere near the season-high 58.8 percent they did Tuesday night in their 122-101 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics at Arco Arena, they'll be a handful for any opponent.

The problem, though - and this could be big - is the Kings' shooting and offensive execution has been up and down. If there was an inconsistency award given out in the NBA, the Kings would be main contenders.



However, on this night, the Kings were pretty close to as good as it gets. Not only did they shoot well and collect a season-high 36 assists, they also kept the Sonics' bruise brothers, Reggie Evans and Danny Fortson, well in check.

The victory reduced the Kings' magic number for clinching a playoff spot to two.

Fortson, who was booed all night, wasn't much of a factor with eight points and three rebounds. Evans started off well and finished with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. But unlike in the previous three games - and losses - against the Sonics, there weren't a bunch of Kings players on their butts all night.

This collection of Kings had not been present for those three previous losses, and coach Rick Adelman was looking for an improved performance.

"I was more concerned that we would play them better than we have before," Adelman said after his team twice grabbed a 16-point lead in the second quarter thanks to strong bench play led by Eddie House and Darius Songaila before nearly letting it slip away by halftime.

Maybe the coach should have been less concerned. The Kings pulled away from the 65-57 halftime score by shooting 69 percent in the third quarter.

Overall, six Kings reached double-figure scoring and took turns burning Seattle's defense. Peja Stojakovic scored a game-high 24 points and made five of six three-point attempts.

But perhaps his biggest contributions were a season-high tying seven assists. Kenny Thomas missed his first two shots and then made eight straight on the way to a 9-of-13 shooting night.

Cuttino Mobley attacked Seattle's Ray Allen (23 points) and scored 21, including 12 in the third quarter on 3-of-3 from shooting from three-point range.

Kings center Brian Skinner did the tough work inside, which includes dealing with a physical Fortson.

"I think he's at the top of his class," said Skinner, who made each of his four field-goal attempts and had seven rebounds. "That's what he's known for, and that's what he is coming in to do. Not really do too much more than to just knock some people around and knock some heads off."

Seattle was without All-Star small forward Rashard Lewis (right foot contusion) and Vladimir Radmanovic (stress fracture, right fibula).

However, they might not have made a difference. The Kings actually appeared determined to show a united aggression at the defensive end.

One possession early in the fourth quarter exemplified the effort.

Antonio Daniels, 6-foot-4, wanted to post up Sacramento's House, 6-1, on the right side of the lane.

The Kings challenged the post and forced a tough pass that Daniels had to work to catch. Stojakovic came over to help and trapped Daniels, and Thomas nearly came away with a steal of Daniels' harassed attempt at a pass. The ball went out of bounds, and the Arco crowd saluted the effort with applause.

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12681254p-13534251c.html

 

[Pqster]

Great Article, I don't know the media out there but sounds like McNeal saw what I saw. I was suprised to see some of the post in here today, I figured Sac Town would be happy that the guys got in there and banged with the "bruise Brothers" lol. But instead you get well it wasnt enough, still got pushed around, KT gets a B cause he didnt shoot enough jump Shots, like 8 shots in a row wasn't good enough (and was detucted cause he moved well without the ball, and got into great position, Huh!). Just glad to see someone else saw the game like I saw it.

 

[kingsfannPDX]

Great Article, I don't know the media out there but sounds like McNeal saw what I saw. I was suprised to see some of the post in here today, I figured Sac Town would be happy that the guys got in there and banged with the "bruise Brothers" lol. But instead you get well it wasnt enough, still got pushed around, KT gets a B cause he didnt shoot enough jump Shots, like 8 shots in a row wasn't good enough (and was detucted cause he moved well without the ball, and got into great position, Huh!). Just glad to see someone else saw the game like I saw it.

what, you act like a B is a bad grade.

 

[iheartBrad]

thx LMM

 

[Pqster]

what, you act like a B is a bad grade.

I quess my point is KT as much as I hate to come to terms with is and will probably be a role player. And too me if a role player gets you 20 and 8 that is an A. On the other hand if KG or Duncan gets you 20 and 8 that could be graded as a B. KT is going to get you 15 and 10 consistantly if you are grading against All stars it will always come up short. Just justify the grade with what the guy brings to the table.

 

[Bricklayer]

Great Article, I don't know the media out there but sounds like McNeal saw what I saw. I was suprised to see some of the post in here today, I figured Sac Town would be happy that the guys got in there and banged with the "bruise Brothers" lol. But instead you get well it wasnt enough, still got pushed around, KT gets a B cause he didnt shoot enough jump Shots, like 8 shots in a row wasn't good enough (and was detucted cause he moved well without the ball, and got into great position, Huh!). Just glad to see someone else saw the game like I saw it.

KT -- The numbers as I seem to remember them were something like a 3rebs to 12rebs (for Evans) at the end of 3/4, when the game was more or less over. The 12 rebounds were not from our guy. Given that perhaps the #1 responsibility of a PF is to rebound, that ain't going to cut it, and is hardly indicative of rugged play around the rim. To the contrary he got pushed all over the paint by the much stronger Evans. Used his quickness again to his advantage on the other end. But here's the tired old story -- we were outrebounded, were outscored in the paint by a jumpshooing team, gave up 100pts and STILL aren't doing the dirty work it takes to matter. The offense was great last night, but I'm not buying that great offense = great toughness.

Skinner -- was quiet in the first half, then got worked over by Jerome James in the third. Yay.

Corliss -- grabbed zero rebounds, lost the mental game to Fortson, picked up a technical, and so sat out the rest of the game.

We won this one on great offense. Nothing else.

 

[Heuge]

We won this one on great offense. Nothing else.

We may also have won this game on a rarely heard: "Their injuries were worse then ours."

 

[Daniela]

Heuge-How can their injuries be worse than ours. Brad Miller and Bobby? Come on. That is no excuse. Also, I think Corliss showed great restraint after he incorrectly got called for that doulbe foul. Clearly, Fortson PUNK PUNK PUNK, shoved him hard. He was just defending himself. I would've knocked him out. He also shoved Darius several times.

 

[Heuge]

Heuge-How can their injuries be worse than ours. Brad Miller and Bobby? Come on.

R. Lewis, A. Danials, V. Radmanovic
Id say its effect is a bit worse. We've been without Bobby for so long we are used to it.

 

[loopymitch]

We may also have won this game on a rarely heard: "Their injuries were worse then ours."

I never thought I'd hear that phrase.

 

[Bartking]

Seattle may be a jumpshooting team, but they are second-best in the NBA in rebound diff. We're third-worst, so losing the boards by two is a miracle by our standards.

 

[SacTownKid]

KT -- The numbers as I seem to remember them were something like a 3rebs to 12rebs (for Evans) at the end of 3/4, when the game was more or less over. The 12 rebounds were not from our guy. Given that perhaps the #1 responsibility of a PF is to rebound, that ain't going to cut it, and is hardly indicative of rugged play around the rim. To the contrary he got pushed all over the paint by the much stronger Evans. Used his quickness again to his advantage on the other end. But here's the tired old story -- we were outrebounded, were outscored in the paint by a jumpshooing team, gave up 100pts and STILL aren't doing the dirty work it takes to matter. The offense was great last night, but I'm not buying that great offense = great toughness.

1st half Evans dominated. 2nd half, Thomas and Skinner shut him down. What were you watching??? Evans had 7 of his rebounds in the first quarter.

 

[Bricklayer]

1st half Evans dominated. 2nd half, Thomas and Skinner shut him down. What were you watching??? Evans had 7 of his rebounds in the first quarter.

I was watching the one where according to the play by play Reggie Evans by himself had as many rebounds through three quarters as our entire frontcourt (Skinner(5), Thomas(4), Darius(3), Corliss(0)) + did not play at all in the 4th because our offensive explosion made it moot.

 

[SacTownKid]

I was watching the one where according to the play by play Reggie Evans by himself had as many rebounds through three quarters as our entire frontcourt (Skinner(5), Thomas(4), Darius(3), Corliss(0)) + did not play at all in the 4th because our offensive explosion made it moot.

He had 7 in the first quarter. 5 for the next three ain't all bad, especially if your talking play by play and stats! The front court players were horrendous during the first quarter, just not even going at the boards. The team DID turn it around though.

 

[Bricklayer]

He had 7 in the first quarter. 5 for the next three ain't all bad, especially if your talking play by play and stats! The front court players were horrendous during the first quarter, just not even going at the boards. The team DID turn it around though.

5 for the next two -- Reggie did not play in the 4th. In fact barely played in the 2nd. The only reason the gap wasn't embarrassing is because we kept our starters on the floor to the end of the game to rack up stats while Evans was pulled after three. We played a FAR better game from the perimeter than the Sonics. The ONLY reason they were even able to maintain even minimal contact was because they beat us up in the interior.

The sad thing is we've built up such a tolerance to it that not being actively destroyed in there now is starting to be considered a good performance.

 

[teamdimechampionship]

R. Lewis, A. Danials, V. Radmanovic
Id say its effect is a bit worse. We've been without Bobby for so long we are used to it.

No offense to B & B but Rashard Lewis is more important than both of em combined. Rashard Lewis is one hell of a player and he's only gonna get better!

 

[Heuge]

No offense to B & B but Rashard Lewis is more important than both of em combined. Rashard Lewis is one hell of a player and he's only gonna get better!

I dont agree.

 

[teamdimechampionship]

I dont agree.

You don't have to but I bet we both hope he's still hurt come playoff time!

 

[piksi]

No offense to B & B but Rashard Lewis is more important than both of em combined. Rashard Lewis is one hell of a player and he's only gonna get better!

An alll star and the 6th man for an all star

I would say we are missing more

 

[teamdimechampionship]

An alll star and the 6th man for an all star

I would say we are missing more

Brad is an all-star due to lack of centers and Bobby isn't what he used to be. But I sure hope we get em back soon. ESPECIALLY BRAD!

 

[Heuge]

Brad is an all-star due to lack of centers and Bobby isn't what he used to be.

Brad is a bonifide all-star (has done it in both conferences), and a lack of centers is irrelevant. We have no clue whether Bobby has lost anything b/c we haven't seen him for a basically 2 years.

 

[Kingsgurl]

Heuge-How can their injuries be worse than ours. Brad Miller and Bobby? Come on. That is no excuse. Also, I think Corliss showed great restraint after he incorrectly got called for that doulbe foul. Clearly, Fortson PUNK PUNK PUNK, shoved him hard. He was just defending himself. I would've knocked him out. He also shoved Darius several times.

That's what Fortson does. The ref called a double technical because he didn't SEE who started it, which is ALSO what Fortson is good at. Corliss LOST that battle by allowing Fortson to get under his skin, which is basically the only way Fortson is at all effective. Corliss did not show great restraint, he got T'ed up and cost us a free point (didn't end up mattering because of the score differential)

 

[teamdimechampionship]

That's what Fortson does. The ref called a double technical because he didn't SEE who started it, which is ALSO what Fortson is good at. Corliss LOST that battle by allowing Fortson to get under his skin, which is basically the only way Fortson is at all effective. Corliss did not show great restraint, he got T'ed up and cost us a free point (didn't end up mattering because of the score differential)

Ray Allen made that Tech. free throw too. He only had 3 points at that point. He immediately got hot and had 16 by halftime. That kind of bonehead play hurts! Glad to see Rick sit him down! You gotta play physical but stay UNDER CONTROL!