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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/11054363p-11971216c.html
Kings appear flat in defeat
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, October 11, 2004
Kings coach Rick Adelman didn't waste much time trying to find positives in his team's 97-79 loss to the Golden State Warriors in an exhibition opener Sunday night at Arco Arena.
"I didn't see a whole lot of positive things," the coach said before he and his team prepared to leave on a 14-hour flight to Shanghai to participate in the China Games against the Houston Rockets and Yao Ming.
Perhaps Adelman's perspective was influenced by what he saw in the game's later stages, because the Kings were at their worst in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter.
Despite the absences of forward Chris Webber (sore left knee), guard Doug Christie (foot tissue inflammation) and center Greg Ostertag (fractured right hand), Sacramento trailed only 61-58 with three minutes left in the third quarter. But the Kings were outscored 36-21 the rest of the game.
Although the Kings have enjoyed enormous success the past few years, the Warriors displayed more toughness. With former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery now at the helm, Golden State has a predominantly veteran squad fortified by the offseason additions of Dale Davis and Derek Fisher.
The announced sellout crowd of 17,317 made Fisher feel as if he were still with the Los Angeles Lakers, booing as he entered the game as a reserve behind Speedy Claxton. Fisher contributed 12 points, three assists and three rebounds with no turnovers in 18 minutes.
Adelman didn't mince words regarding the Kings' performance.
"I thought we played very poorly," said Adelman, who started first-round draft pick Kevin Martin for Christie and Darius Songaila for Webber.
"In the first half, we missed a lot of shots, but I thought we had some good opportunities. But in the second half, we didn't play together, we didn't defend, we didn't do anything."
Adelman said he thought the players from his core group were most at fault.
"Our core guys didn't come ready to play," he said about Peja Stojakovic, Brad Miller, Mike Bibby and Bobby Jackson. "They are not going to play that many minutes in these games anyway, but they've got to know they've got to play harder than that."
Miller agreed with Adelman's assessment.
"Hopefully, we learned a lot from it," said Miller, who made only 1 of 11 shots and had a number of others rejected by the Warriors. "We've got to take the few good things we did and look at that. It wasn't really going the way it should be for us, and there's no excuse even with some of the new guys who started out.
"We know how to play together and know what the coach wants. We just didn't execute. We've got to get back and make sure we get all this stuff worked out right now in the preseason before the season gets fired up and starts counting."
Adelman said he wasn't worried about Webber's knee. Then again, the coach said there could be cause for concern in the future.
"He was sore, so there was no reason for him to play (Sunday)," Adelman said. "They are just eight days into camp, so, no, I don't have any concerns.
"There are always concerns about an injury and whether it is going to become a recurring thing. We had a pretty rigorous schedule during those eight days. And during the preseason, we're going to have some back-to-back games, so we'll just have to see."
Montgomery said he thought his team had worked hard in camp and reaped the rewards. "I think Sacramento's mind-set was on a (14-hour) plane flight right after the game," he said.
Kings appear flat in defeat
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, October 11, 2004
Kings coach Rick Adelman didn't waste much time trying to find positives in his team's 97-79 loss to the Golden State Warriors in an exhibition opener Sunday night at Arco Arena.
"I didn't see a whole lot of positive things," the coach said before he and his team prepared to leave on a 14-hour flight to Shanghai to participate in the China Games against the Houston Rockets and Yao Ming.
Perhaps Adelman's perspective was influenced by what he saw in the game's later stages, because the Kings were at their worst in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter.
Despite the absences of forward Chris Webber (sore left knee), guard Doug Christie (foot tissue inflammation) and center Greg Ostertag (fractured right hand), Sacramento trailed only 61-58 with three minutes left in the third quarter. But the Kings were outscored 36-21 the rest of the game.
Although the Kings have enjoyed enormous success the past few years, the Warriors displayed more toughness. With former Stanford coach Mike Montgomery now at the helm, Golden State has a predominantly veteran squad fortified by the offseason additions of Dale Davis and Derek Fisher.
The announced sellout crowd of 17,317 made Fisher feel as if he were still with the Los Angeles Lakers, booing as he entered the game as a reserve behind Speedy Claxton. Fisher contributed 12 points, three assists and three rebounds with no turnovers in 18 minutes.
Adelman didn't mince words regarding the Kings' performance.
"I thought we played very poorly," said Adelman, who started first-round draft pick Kevin Martin for Christie and Darius Songaila for Webber.
"In the first half, we missed a lot of shots, but I thought we had some good opportunities. But in the second half, we didn't play together, we didn't defend, we didn't do anything."
Adelman said he thought the players from his core group were most at fault.
"Our core guys didn't come ready to play," he said about Peja Stojakovic, Brad Miller, Mike Bibby and Bobby Jackson. "They are not going to play that many minutes in these games anyway, but they've got to know they've got to play harder than that."
Miller agreed with Adelman's assessment.
"Hopefully, we learned a lot from it," said Miller, who made only 1 of 11 shots and had a number of others rejected by the Warriors. "We've got to take the few good things we did and look at that. It wasn't really going the way it should be for us, and there's no excuse even with some of the new guys who started out.
"We know how to play together and know what the coach wants. We just didn't execute. We've got to get back and make sure we get all this stuff worked out right now in the preseason before the season gets fired up and starts counting."
Adelman said he wasn't worried about Webber's knee. Then again, the coach said there could be cause for concern in the future.
"He was sore, so there was no reason for him to play (Sunday)," Adelman said. "They are just eight days into camp, so, no, I don't have any concerns.
"There are always concerns about an injury and whether it is going to become a recurring thing. We had a pretty rigorous schedule during those eight days. And during the preseason, we're going to have some back-to-back games, so we'll just have to see."
Montgomery said he thought his team had worked hard in camp and reaped the rewards. "I think Sacramento's mind-set was on a (14-hour) plane flight right after the game," he said.
Good observation
