Surging Kings have 20-20 sight

[LMM]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11677014p-12565989c.html

Surging Kings have 20-20 sight

They go from 20 down to 20 up during a stunning 84-44 run.

By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, December 6, 2004

If the Kings were to visit a psychiatrist to probe and analyze their highest and lowest zones, they could save the gas money and send the tape of Sunday night's bizarre 119-105 blowout of the Boston Celtics as Exhibits A through Z.



Another Arco Arena sellout crowd somehow suppressed its collective booing mechanism during a first quarter when the Kings scored a season low and gave up a season high.



From there, they dominated the Celtics with an overwhelming series of runs.

After rallying from a 38-18 deficit 23 seconds into the second quarter, the Kings (12-5) won their fourth straight and 11th in their last 12 games. Their point total was a season high, as were their 35 assists.

With 11:37 left in the second quarter, the Kings trailed by 20. With 8:54 left in the fourth, they led by 20 (102-82), an advantage that grew to 112-86 with 4:01 left. During that 26-minute, 20-20 turnaround, the Kings outscored the Celtics 84-44.

Peja Stojakovic lulled the Celtics (7-9) to sleep by missing four of his first five field-goal attempts, then went on one of his tears in which it didn't matter how far he was from the basket. He couldn't miss, and neither could the rest of his teammates.

First-year Celtics coach Doc Rivers has his squad running to maximize its strengths, athleticism and energy. Before the game, he said his team could run with the Kings. But he said there has to be total commitment.

"Our running game was the difference in the first half," Rivers said. "It proved you can run with this team, but you can't take your foot off the pedal."

Or else you'll get run off the road.

Stojakovic scored a game-high 27 points, followed by Brad Miller's 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Chris Webber's 18 points and 10 rebounds. Webber missed six of his first seven shots and passed the ball haphazardly in the first quarter. For the rest of the game, he was 8 of 9 from the field and passed impeccably.

At one point, coach Rick Adelman uncharacteristically screamed at his squad in the huddle. All that the coaches had talked about, he reminded them, was Boston's fast-break attack.

Maybe the coaching staff scared the sense out of the Kings, because they spent the first quarter watching the Celtics run past them for 14 fast-break points to Sacramento's one point.

During one exchange, Adelman said he challenged his team in a unique way.

"I told them if they wanted to lose the game, then go ahead and lose it," Adelman said. "I'd already called one timeout and a 20-second timeout. I just said, 'If that's what you want to do, then do it.' "

More importantly, Adelman changed the tone of the game to start the second quarter, starting reserves Greg Ostertag, Matt Barnes, Bobby Jackson and Darius Songaila, along with point guard Mike Bibby (15 points, 10 assists, one turnover).

"I felt at least those guys would get back on defense and give us some energy," Adelman said. "I kept telling our guys if we ran our offense, got back on defense and made (the Celtics) play a halfcourt game, we had a shot."

And a shot and another shot, and so on and so on.

"Sometimes it's better to get down by a lot and then come back because when you can do that, you can demoralize a team," Miller said.

Songaila scored a season-high 14 points and said the team had to make a stand. "You can't just let them run over you," Songaila said after grabbing seven rebounds. "At some point, the guys on the court as well as the guys on the bench just have to say, That's enough, and start playing."

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

I want to see Adelman bust out with some Knute Rockne sometime... just for a change of pace.

 

[RaY Z]

More importantly, Adelman changed the tone of the game to start the second quarter, starting reserves Greg Ostertag, Matt Barnes, Bobby Jackson and Darius Songaila, along with point guard Mike Bibby (15 points, 10 assists, one turnover).

"I felt at least those guys would get back on defense and give us some energy," Adelman said. "I kept telling our guys if we ran our offense, got back on defense and made (the Celtics) play a halfcourt game, we had a shot."

i thought aldeman coached really really well iin this game... he actually used the reserves to get us back in the game... i think it shows aldeman can now rely on his his new bench players...

 

[NoBonus]

I think the whole "invisible bench" thing really motivates/ticks-off our bench players... and they play great, but get no recognition... sportcasters say things like "Look at the Kings team with JJ, Keon Clark, BJax, Hedo and Pollard on the bench... that was a solid bench!" and, though it is true that bench was solid, but I would take DSong and OTag to Keon and Pollard any day of the week. That leaves Hedo and JJ vs. Barnes and ?; sure we do not have an extra quality player to play garbage time, but Peja already plays a TON lessening the utility of having two backup SFs. Personally, I think our bench will perform better than the old "deep" bench; we just moved from quality SF/SGs to quality PF/Cs on our bench and I think having better big men on our bench will payoff big in the playoffs.

Perhaps we should just start calling them the "invisible bench" as a badge of honor and to keep them motivated. It's a cool image, the invisible bench... also, I think the Invisible Bench could beat a lot of current NBA teams as starters. They proved they could play as a unit last night and impacted the Celts...

My biggest hope is that Flash steps up his game over the season and gets more minutes (dream on, I know), but we could really use a backup off-guard.

 

[Padrino]

I think the whole "invisible bench" thing really motivates/ticks-off our bench players... and they play great, but get no recognition... sportcasters say things like "Look at the Kings team with JJ, Keon Clark, BJax, Hedo and Pollard on the bench... that was a solid bench!" and, though it is true that bench was solid, but I would take DSong and OTag to Keon and Pollard any day of the week. That leaves Hedo and JJ vs. Barnes and ?; sure we do not have an extra quality player to play garbage time, but Peja already plays a TON lessening the utility of having two backup SFs. Personally, I think our bench will perform better than the old "deep" bench; we just moved from quality SF/SGs to quality PF/Cs on our bench and I think having better big men on our bench will payoff big in the playoffs.

Perhaps we should just start calling them the "invisible bench" as a badge of honor and to keep them motivated. It's a cool image, the invisible bench... also, I think the Invisible Bench could beat a lot of current NBA teams as starters. They proved they could play as a unit last night and impacted the Celts...

My biggest hope is that Flash steps up his game over the season and gets more minutes (dream on, I know), but we could really use a backup off-guard.

a lot of sportscasters tend to forget that hedo and pollard were traded to indiana for brad miller. hedo ended up in SA via trade, but was packaged w/ pollard for miller originally. and i'm quite certain the kings are a better team w/ miller than with the afrorementioned two. one being an underachieving small forward, the other an injured and hobbled center.

 

[Bricklayer]

I think the whole "invisible bench" thing really motivates/ticks-off our bench players... and they play great, but get no recognition... sportcasters say things like "Look at the Kings team with JJ, Keon Clark, BJax, Hedo and Pollard on the bench... that was a solid bench!" and, though it is true that bench was solid, but I would take DSong and OTag to Keon and Pollard any day of the week. That leaves Hedo and JJ vs. Barnes and ?; sure we do not have an extra quality player to play garbage time, but Peja already plays a TON lessening the utility of having two backup SFs. Personally, I think our bench will perform better than the old "deep" bench; we just moved from quality SF/SGs to quality PF/Cs on our bench and I think having better big men on our bench will payoff big in the playoffs.

Perhaps we should just start calling them the "invisible bench" as a badge of honor and to keep them motivated. It's a cool image, the invisible bench... also, I think the Invisible Bench could beat a lot of current NBA teams as starters. They proved they could play as a unit last night and impacted the Celts...

My biggest hope is that Flash steps up his game over the season and gets more minutes (dream on, I know), but we could really use a backup off-guard.

You would take Songaila and Tag over Keon and Pollard? I wouldn't. let alone the rest of the bench. Really no cpmparison. Bobby, Keon, JJ, Hedo are all basically starters/6th men playing deeper than they should on your bench. Pollard, Jones, Gerlad all sitting there as well as guys who have started in the league. We had exactly one scrub on the entire team and a very legit starting lineup coming off our bench.

But I've mentioned before that that just wasn't sustainable. Only reason we even put that much talent together was because of the massive injuries that year (leading to pickin up Jones and JJ), and the only way we could keep all that talent even remotely happy was again because of the huge injuries opening up big minutes for guys who were used to them. It was one of the best benches I've seen assembled, but the reason it worked was because it really wasn't a bench, as in guys coming off the bench as backups. We really just had about 8-9 starters rotating through according to who was healthy. Once the team was more or less intact, no way you can keep that many players of that caliber happy with 15min off the bench.

 

[AriesMar27]

i dont know abou that brick.... the way hubie ran the grizzlies was sweet as hell. no one played over 30 minutes, with the talent that we had, that would have been nice right about now. no worrying about webber getting injured(yeah i know) or peja tiring out by the time the playoffs starts... blah, blah, blah.... deep bench, blah, blah, blah....

 

[Bricklayer]

i dont know abou that brick.... the way hubie ran the grizzlies was sweet as hell. no one played over 30 minutes, with the talent that we had, that would have been nice right about now. no worrying about webber getting injured(yeah i know) or peja tiring out by the time the playoffs starts... blah, blah, blah.... deep bench, blah, blah, blah....

And actually if you believe reports apparently Hubie's guys were starting to revolt this year too. He got a year out of them because they had always sucked and would buy in for a while. But they were tiring of it. Its not a sustainable situation to keep starters coming off the bench for limited minutes.

 

[sloter]

Yeah, 30 mins a game won't really keep the best players in the flow... or happy.

 

[kingskings!]

Yeah, 30 mins a game won't really keep the best players in the flow... or happy.

Webb sounded unhappy with his 35 last night (35.1 average this season) and mentioned that he hoped his minutes, and numbers, would go up later in the season. And yet not a pip, or a squeak, from Timmy D. on his 34.9 minutes per game average so far this season...(I'm quoting Webb on his House Party interview last night).

Hey, I'm TRYING to love this guy and I appreciate his improvement over both last season and his injury...but I have to say, isn't MP during the regular season one of the things harped on most during the playoffs as an excuse for why the Kings don't play well?

BTW, Peja's at 38.9 minutes which is slightly lower than his last season MPG so it's not like CWebb is being picked on...Hey! if the schedule allows for it, shouldn't all starters (playoff impact guys) be happy if they can play less than the full 48 in the regular season to get their team into the playoffs where they can then begin to show their stuff?

KK!

 

[VF21]

Webber certainly didn't look unhappy to me and I certainly didn't get that from the interview... He's happy when the rookies get a chance out on the court. In fact, he and Pedja and Bibby were all sitting there cheering the rookies on...

Are you sure you aren't reading too much into things?

 

[Bricklayer]

Webb sounded unhappy with his 35 last night (35.1 average this season) and mentioned that he hoped his minutes, and numbers, would go up later in the season. And yet not a pip, or a squeak, from Timmy D. on his 34.9 minutes per game average so far this season...(I'm quoting Webb on his House Party interview last night).

KK!

Not to doubt you....but to doubt you: are you sure you understood what Webber was saying in that interview? He got 35mpg last night because we blew a team out. Hardly the situation a player normally complains about.

On the other hand I HAVE heard him say at numerous points this season that he hopes the knee is healthy enough to go for more minutes later in the season, normally after a night in which its limited him.

Have no idea what Tim is or is not saying down in S.A., and presumably none of us on this board do if talking about comments on some local postgame show. Anyway, but since his limited minutes are due to the Spurs blowing teams out as well, of course I doubt he'd be saying much of anything either. Now, if he was being pulled from close games and given extended breaks while Malik Rose played PF for them, I actually would expect him to say something, to the coach if nobody else. Would just have to as a competitior.

 

[kingskings!]

Webber certainly didn't look unhappy to me and I certainly didn't get that from the interview... He's happy when the rookies get a chance out on the court. In fact, he and Pedja and Bibby were all sitting there cheering the rookies on...

Are you sure you aren't reading too much into things?

I'm trying not to read too much into things but when the quote goes something like "hopefully coach will put me in for more minutes, I'm only playing around 35 now and when he does my numbers will go up" in response to a question about how his knee was working out and how the reduced minutes might be having a (good) impact on his improved performance ... it's kinda hard for a Webber doubter (NOT hater) to miss. Like I said, I wanna love this guy, he plays for my home team and I love the Kings, but I have, ummm, issues with what he says. I want to believe him, I do. But, without getting too specific, I have problems with getting behind every word that comes out of his mouth. I want to believe them, I can't tell you how much I do want to believe him. Sometimes though I feel as though I was born in Missouri, not California!

But, one thing we can agree on, he does have a great smile!

 

[VF21]

I disagree. I do NOT think he said that. As a Webber doubter, I think you may have misunderstood or misinterpreted something simply because you're listening so closely for him to say something wrong.

Could you provide me with the quote please? If not, perhaps someone will be able to because I am pretty close to positive that he did not say that.

 

[kingskings!]

I disagree. I do NOT think he said that. As a Webber doubter, I think you may have misunderstood or misinterpreted something simply because you're listening so closely for him to say something wrong.

Could you provide me with the quote please? If not, perhaps someone will be able to because I am pretty close to positive that he did not say that.

I have been looking for a quote in the media since before I posted my reply but I cannot find quotes from either Chris or Peja from last night's game (not even in the postgame quotes section on the Kings official website). I think we'd have to find somebody who taped or TIVO'd the game to get an exact quote (QD, do you still have it?).

I do not try to listen for Chris to say the "wrong" thing, I listen hopefully and then wince when something sounds wrong. I probably never should have labeled myself a "doubter", it makes it far too easy to dismiss my comments.

As I have said numerous times before, I WANT to believe him, but without going into stuff that doesn't need to come up here again, he does make it hard for some Kings fans. Not all, I only said some!

And that is only my two cents and I believe my last post of the evening. I am sorry to have offended you again.

Sleep well and have a great day tomorrow!

KK!

 

[VF21]

I am not dismissing your comments. I have said MANY times that I think Webber would be well served to never speak to the media because his comments are often misinterpreted, misunderstood, whatever. So, just as you listen "hopefully," I listen very carefully because I fear he will - once again - provide fodder for the mill.

You choose not to forgive him for "stuf that doesn't need to come up here again." Fine. That is your choice. I am not offended.

I simply ask that if you're going to make comments of that sort that you provide the quote. That way we can all discuss what it may or may not have meant.

You have a great day, too!

I still like your posts even though I don't think we'll ever see eye to eye on some things!

 

[Bricklayer]

No, sounds like he was making more of a generalized statement about his overall minutes. That is entirely possible. He's used to playing 38-40, and there are games where his knee just will not take that. I thought you were saying that he was complaining about his 35 in last night's game, which seemed much less likely given the blowout.

In any case, I am quite comfortable with the 35 given his health. Play him as much as you need him to win, but cheat around the edges whenever possible and trim whatever minutes you can in blowouts. Every minute you save with Webb increases your chance of getting through the season without serious mishap.

 

[GoGoGadget]

I saw the quote last night (it ran on the post game show) and went back to see if I still had it on tape, but its already gone.

If I remember correctly, it was one of the typical Chris comments that could go either way. I could understand why someone would take it to mean that he was upset about playing time if that's what they wanted to hear. I, personally, did not get that at all. However, since I do know which comment KK is referring to, I can see how the meaning might be a little vague.

FWIW.

 

[sloter]

Actually, he'd probably be better of with more minutes given the nature of his injury. If his knee cools off while he's sitting on the bench he would probably be less effective than if he spent the whole time in the game, and that can be very frustrating for the player.

 

[VF21]

I saw the quote last night (it ran on the post game show) and went back to see if I still had it on tape, but its already gone.

If I remember correctly, it was one of the typical Chris comments that could go either way. I could understand why someone would take it to mean that he was upset about playing time if that's what they wanted to hear. I, personally, did not get that at all. However, since I do know which comment KK is referring to, I can see how the meaning might be a little vague.

FWIW.

Thanks, GGG!

It never ceases to amaze me that Webber can evoke this much discussion, even in an inocuous post-game interview. At this point, I don't care WHAT he says or even to whom he says it, provided he keeps doing what he's doing ON the court!!

 

[ReinadelosReys]

From this last game right?

From my memory he said something to the effect of ( the question was, something like do you think you'll play more min., since your knee is feeling good): Yeah the knee feels good, I haven't had any problems with it. I only played 30 min today, but that's the plan to start out slow and then hopefully increase as the season goes on.