http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/kelly_dwyer/03/14/champs.chumps/index.html
Too little, too late
Poor start will ultimately doom Kings' playoff push
By Kelly Dwyer
Champs
• The Kings have been an interesting case all season long, mainly because they're a talented and potentially pleasing bunch to watch, and partially because their underachieving November, December and January made them look right silly. Yes, coach Rick Adelman was given plenty of new parts and asked to create cohesion on the fly, but he's done it before, and the players he was given were right for his system. And his "system," if executed properly, doesn't take a genius to understand: Mike Bibby nails shots, Brad Miller sets screens and nails shots, Shareef Abdur-Rahim works the low block and nails shots and Bonzi Wells garners garbage points and nails shots.
The late-January trade that sent Peja Stojakovic (doesn't shave, nails shots) to Indiana for Ron Artest (pushes people, nails shots) seemed to act as the panacea that sent this team spiraling back toward respectability, but it shouldn't have taken such a dramatic maneuver. Adelman should have had this crew on its best behavior by Thanksgiving at the latest. Nobody thought this was a 60-win team, mind you, but certainly a strong enough group to return to the playoffs without a Hail Mary deal.
Sacramento's a game over .500 now, and it would be in the playoffs if the season ended sometime this afternoon. After dropping their first two games with Ron-Ron on the payroll, the Kings have won 14 of 19 as Miller has regained his clutch touch, Artest has befuddled defenders with oddly timed post-ups and Kevin Martin has emerged as a pleasant surprise to anyone who may have overlooked his contributions last year.
Now for the tough part. Although they've had their moments against the West's top four seeds (compiling a 5-5 record against Dallas, Phoenix, Denver and San Antonio), the Kings are not going to be able to do much beyond making a competitive go against those relative powerhouses.
Somehow, that seems beneath this veteran roster. Even though the return to form has been pleasant to watch, for the Kings, 2006-07 can't get here fast enough.
Too little, too late
Poor start will ultimately doom Kings' playoff push
By Kelly Dwyer
Champs
• The Kings have been an interesting case all season long, mainly because they're a talented and potentially pleasing bunch to watch, and partially because their underachieving November, December and January made them look right silly. Yes, coach Rick Adelman was given plenty of new parts and asked to create cohesion on the fly, but he's done it before, and the players he was given were right for his system. And his "system," if executed properly, doesn't take a genius to understand: Mike Bibby nails shots, Brad Miller sets screens and nails shots, Shareef Abdur-Rahim works the low block and nails shots and Bonzi Wells garners garbage points and nails shots.
The late-January trade that sent Peja Stojakovic (doesn't shave, nails shots) to Indiana for Ron Artest (pushes people, nails shots) seemed to act as the panacea that sent this team spiraling back toward respectability, but it shouldn't have taken such a dramatic maneuver. Adelman should have had this crew on its best behavior by Thanksgiving at the latest. Nobody thought this was a 60-win team, mind you, but certainly a strong enough group to return to the playoffs without a Hail Mary deal.
Sacramento's a game over .500 now, and it would be in the playoffs if the season ended sometime this afternoon. After dropping their first two games with Ron-Ron on the payroll, the Kings have won 14 of 19 as Miller has regained his clutch touch, Artest has befuddled defenders with oddly timed post-ups and Kevin Martin has emerged as a pleasant surprise to anyone who may have overlooked his contributions last year.
Now for the tough part. Although they've had their moments against the West's top four seeds (compiling a 5-5 record against Dallas, Phoenix, Denver and San Antonio), the Kings are not going to be able to do much beyond making a competitive go against those relative powerhouses.
Somehow, that seems beneath this veteran roster. Even though the return to form has been pleasant to watch, for the Kings, 2006-07 can't get here fast enough.
