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[font=verdana,geneva,arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Offseason of uncertainty
Despite new faces, Kings were much the same: Prolific as well as passive
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, May 5, 2005
The Kings began the 2004-05 season with one of the NBA's most playoff-tested starting units, one expected to benefit from the breakup of the Los Angeles Lakers.
How long ago does that seem?
Moreover, how many observers back then would have predicted that a lack of chemistry caused by unfamiliarity would play a part in the Kings' downfall? Had one pointed to the prospect of a blowup between Peja Stojakovic and Chris Webber at that time, it likely would have been better received.
Tuesday night, the Kings ended their season with a starting five of Brad Miller, Kenny Thomas, Peja Stojakovic, Cuttino Mobley and Mike Bibby that was playing only its fourth game together. They and the rest of Sacramento's reconfigured roster lost 4-1 to the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Clearly, gaining experience on the run in the playoffs was not the plan when the Kings traded Doug Christie to Orlando for Mobley and Michael Bradley on Jan. 10.
Nor was it basketball president Geoff Petrie's formula for postseason success when he dealt Chris Webber, Matt Barnes and Bradley to Philadelphia for Brian Skinner, Corliss Williamson and Thomas on Feb. 23.
But imagine this: The Kings were hampered by injuries to key personnel.
Miller played in just 56 games this season because of left leg injuries, and sixth man Bobby Jackson played in the first 24 games, then did not return until the regular-season finale because of a torn left wrist ligament.
And that doesn't even cover the minor injuries that forced coach Rick Adelman to use 23 different starting lineups.
"It's been as tough a year as I've ever had," said Adelman, who admitted all season to be in as much as of a learning mode as everyone around him.
As much as injuries are no excuse in professional sports, reality suggests they can be factors. Yet Adelman coaxed 50 victories out of his team in a surprising season in the West.
No one had an inkling that Phoenix would win the Pacific Division and finish with the NBA's best regular-season record.
Seattle became the shocking champion of the new Northwest Division.
And the Kings, of all the NBA's teams, were the preseason choice to have the best chance of winning their division.
So, who knew?
For both good and bad, some of the Kings' men may have changed, but in essence, the performance remained the same. Sacramento was talented, basically unselfish and careful with the ball.
The Kings led the league in assists and fewest turnovers per game. They finished second in scoring and fourth in three-point shooting. Those sterling statistical achievements, though, were in the regular season.
The negative side of the ledger carried over into the postseason - the inability to play tough, mentally and physically, in crunch time.
Certainly, Sacramento's penchant for playing aggressively at the offensive end influenced its ranking as the fifth-worst team in points allowed per game. But equally huge factors were the Kings' continuing failure to clear their own defensive boards and defend on an individual basis.
One also can note the Kings' unwillingness to give up their bodies enough to take charges and stand up to more athletic opponents.
As one Kings player said of his team, "You don't have to fight. But you have to be willing to push back. Or push first or push sometime. You have to be able to hold your ground in this league, or somebody is going to take it from you. And we're just too soft."
At KeyArena on Tuesday night, the saddest, most frustrated Kings player might have been Jackson. He went scoreless in Games 4 and 5 and played just seven minutes in the finale. Besides not scoring, Jackson had no impact in either game, not the way the proud guard wanted to go out.
Yet in many ways, Jackson, who busted his butt to come back from his wrist injury, symbolized the 2004-05 Kings: talented, hungry but unable to deliver with the game on the line.
Five questions to consider
1. Will Cuttino Mobley opt out of his contract, and how will the Kings deal with the decision?
2. How will basketball president Geoff Petrie address the need for athleticism and toughness?
3. What do they have in Maurice Evans, and how much is he worth?
4. Are the Maloofs still trying to cut salary, or will they open the vault for Petrie?
5. Should the team keep its core and try to make a blockbuster deal for another prime-time player if one is available?
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/12839848p-13689646c.html[/font]
Despite new faces, Kings were much the same: Prolific as well as passive
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, May 5, 2005
The Kings began the 2004-05 season with one of the NBA's most playoff-tested starting units, one expected to benefit from the breakup of the Los Angeles Lakers.
How long ago does that seem?
Moreover, how many observers back then would have predicted that a lack of chemistry caused by unfamiliarity would play a part in the Kings' downfall? Had one pointed to the prospect of a blowup between Peja Stojakovic and Chris Webber at that time, it likely would have been better received.
Tuesday night, the Kings ended their season with a starting five of Brad Miller, Kenny Thomas, Peja Stojakovic, Cuttino Mobley and Mike Bibby that was playing only its fourth game together. They and the rest of Sacramento's reconfigured roster lost 4-1 to the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Clearly, gaining experience on the run in the playoffs was not the plan when the Kings traded Doug Christie to Orlando for Mobley and Michael Bradley on Jan. 10.
Nor was it basketball president Geoff Petrie's formula for postseason success when he dealt Chris Webber, Matt Barnes and Bradley to Philadelphia for Brian Skinner, Corliss Williamson and Thomas on Feb. 23.
But imagine this: The Kings were hampered by injuries to key personnel.
Miller played in just 56 games this season because of left leg injuries, and sixth man Bobby Jackson played in the first 24 games, then did not return until the regular-season finale because of a torn left wrist ligament.
And that doesn't even cover the minor injuries that forced coach Rick Adelman to use 23 different starting lineups.
"It's been as tough a year as I've ever had," said Adelman, who admitted all season to be in as much as of a learning mode as everyone around him.
As much as injuries are no excuse in professional sports, reality suggests they can be factors. Yet Adelman coaxed 50 victories out of his team in a surprising season in the West.
No one had an inkling that Phoenix would win the Pacific Division and finish with the NBA's best regular-season record.
Seattle became the shocking champion of the new Northwest Division.
And the Kings, of all the NBA's teams, were the preseason choice to have the best chance of winning their division.
So, who knew?
For both good and bad, some of the Kings' men may have changed, but in essence, the performance remained the same. Sacramento was talented, basically unselfish and careful with the ball.
The Kings led the league in assists and fewest turnovers per game. They finished second in scoring and fourth in three-point shooting. Those sterling statistical achievements, though, were in the regular season.
The negative side of the ledger carried over into the postseason - the inability to play tough, mentally and physically, in crunch time.
Certainly, Sacramento's penchant for playing aggressively at the offensive end influenced its ranking as the fifth-worst team in points allowed per game. But equally huge factors were the Kings' continuing failure to clear their own defensive boards and defend on an individual basis.
One also can note the Kings' unwillingness to give up their bodies enough to take charges and stand up to more athletic opponents.
As one Kings player said of his team, "You don't have to fight. But you have to be willing to push back. Or push first or push sometime. You have to be able to hold your ground in this league, or somebody is going to take it from you. And we're just too soft."
At KeyArena on Tuesday night, the saddest, most frustrated Kings player might have been Jackson. He went scoreless in Games 4 and 5 and played just seven minutes in the finale. Besides not scoring, Jackson had no impact in either game, not the way the proud guard wanted to go out.
Yet in many ways, Jackson, who busted his butt to come back from his wrist injury, symbolized the 2004-05 Kings: talented, hungry but unable to deliver with the game on the line.
Five questions to consider
1. Will Cuttino Mobley opt out of his contract, and how will the Kings deal with the decision?
2. How will basketball president Geoff Petrie address the need for athleticism and toughness?
3. What do they have in Maurice Evans, and how much is he worth?
4. Are the Maloofs still trying to cut salary, or will they open the vault for Petrie?
5. Should the team keep its core and try to make a blockbuster deal for another prime-time player if one is available?
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/12839848p-13689646c.html[/font]
