http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12069716p-12939925c.html
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Sign up Webber as a Mobley fan
The veteran praises the Kings' new guard for his leadership and play.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, January 18, 2005
LOS ANGELES - The Kings are in the process of showing how many different ways a game can be won. But as long as they're successful in the end, there can be just so many complaints.
The Kings won their fourth straight game, thanks to defense, relocated poise and clutch scoring in an 89-83 decision over the Los Angeles Clippers before a Staples Center crowd of 17,139 celebrating the Rev. Martin Luther King Day.
Cuttino Mobley played an integral role on offense and defense in Monday's matinee, but Chris Webber said the new shooting guard's mouth also helped the Kings record their seventh consecutive victory over the Clippers.
"In my opinion, and I hope people don't take this the wrong way, but we finally have another loudmouth on this team," said Webber, who had 23 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, all team highs. "(Monday), the definite X-factor was Cuttino. Now, I don't have to do all the talking and encouraging. I can just sit back and listen."
The Kings certainly needed direction during the third quarter, after they had seen their 14-point first-quarter lead disappear. Kings center Brad Miller was in the process of dealing with a 2-of-11 shooting performance and had picked up a technical foul after complaining about a non-call on a drive to the basket.
Then Miller had two shots blocked, and his team was arguing with the officiating crew of Tom Washington, Michael Smith and Derrick Collins as much as it was playing against the Clippers.
Following a timeout, Mobley gathered the team together as it moved back onto the court and pointedly told the five players on the floor to concentrate on the matters at hand.
And with the game's outcome in doubt, Mobley delivered a huge block from behind of Chris Kaman's shot and an open-court steal from Quentin Ross that led to a basket as the Kings were erasing the Clippers' eight-point lead.
Finally, Mobley gave the Kings the lead for good, 85-83, when he took a pass from Webber and stuck a three-pointer from the right wing with 59.6 seconds left.
That Clippers guard Corey Maggette shot just 2 of 17 from the field in 37 minutes also must be credited to Mobley, his primary defender.
"Chris saw me," Mobley said of the three-pointer, "and it was big for him to look over at me instead of taking the shot. He trusted me, and the result is what you see."
Webber said Mobley's hustle and willingness to attack defensively are contagious.
"I like the fact I have another guy on the team who is vocal and a leader in his own way," Webber said of Mobley, who scored 19 points, made 7 of 10 free-throw attempts and had five rebounds, four assists, three steals, two blocks and four turnovers in his second game as a King.
"I credit him for going for the steals and the blocked shots," Webber added. "When you see that type of hustle, even though we've seen it before, it still inspires you to put out just as much as the other guy."
The Kings overcame allowing L.A. 19 offensive rebounds, which helped lead to 16 more field-goal attempts, by holding the Clippers to a season-low and Kings foe season-low 31.9 percent. "They killed us on the boards again, like they did (Saturday)," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "We missed (six) free throws in the fourth quarter, which we usually don't do. So all in all, we were fortunate to still be in a position at the end of the game to still win it." Elton Brand led the Clippers with 24 points, and Kaman scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high-tying 15 rebounds.
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Sign up Webber as a Mobley fan
The veteran praises the Kings' new guard for his leadership and play.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, January 18, 2005
LOS ANGELES - The Kings are in the process of showing how many different ways a game can be won. But as long as they're successful in the end, there can be just so many complaints.
The Kings won their fourth straight game, thanks to defense, relocated poise and clutch scoring in an 89-83 decision over the Los Angeles Clippers before a Staples Center crowd of 17,139 celebrating the Rev. Martin Luther King Day.
Cuttino Mobley played an integral role on offense and defense in Monday's matinee, but Chris Webber said the new shooting guard's mouth also helped the Kings record their seventh consecutive victory over the Clippers.
"In my opinion, and I hope people don't take this the wrong way, but we finally have another loudmouth on this team," said Webber, who had 23 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, all team highs. "(Monday), the definite X-factor was Cuttino. Now, I don't have to do all the talking and encouraging. I can just sit back and listen."
The Kings certainly needed direction during the third quarter, after they had seen their 14-point first-quarter lead disappear. Kings center Brad Miller was in the process of dealing with a 2-of-11 shooting performance and had picked up a technical foul after complaining about a non-call on a drive to the basket.
Then Miller had two shots blocked, and his team was arguing with the officiating crew of Tom Washington, Michael Smith and Derrick Collins as much as it was playing against the Clippers.
Following a timeout, Mobley gathered the team together as it moved back onto the court and pointedly told the five players on the floor to concentrate on the matters at hand.
And with the game's outcome in doubt, Mobley delivered a huge block from behind of Chris Kaman's shot and an open-court steal from Quentin Ross that led to a basket as the Kings were erasing the Clippers' eight-point lead.
Finally, Mobley gave the Kings the lead for good, 85-83, when he took a pass from Webber and stuck a three-pointer from the right wing with 59.6 seconds left.
That Clippers guard Corey Maggette shot just 2 of 17 from the field in 37 minutes also must be credited to Mobley, his primary defender.
"Chris saw me," Mobley said of the three-pointer, "and it was big for him to look over at me instead of taking the shot. He trusted me, and the result is what you see."
Webber said Mobley's hustle and willingness to attack defensively are contagious.
"I like the fact I have another guy on the team who is vocal and a leader in his own way," Webber said of Mobley, who scored 19 points, made 7 of 10 free-throw attempts and had five rebounds, four assists, three steals, two blocks and four turnovers in his second game as a King.
"I credit him for going for the steals and the blocked shots," Webber added. "When you see that type of hustle, even though we've seen it before, it still inspires you to put out just as much as the other guy."
The Kings overcame allowing L.A. 19 offensive rebounds, which helped lead to 16 more field-goal attempts, by holding the Clippers to a season-low and Kings foe season-low 31.9 percent. "They killed us on the boards again, like they did (Saturday)," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "We missed (six) free throws in the fourth quarter, which we usually don't do. So all in all, we were fortunate to still be in a position at the end of the game to still win it." Elton Brand led the Clippers with 24 points, and Kaman scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high-tying 15 rebounds.
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