SEATTLE (AP) - Mike Bibby is tired of talking about his performance in Game 1 of Sacramento's playoff series against Seattle.
Or maybe he's just tired of talking, period.
The Kings point guard snubbed interviews Monday in Sacramento, perhaps showing his frustration from days of scrutiny after one of the worst games of his career.
Bibby shot just 1-for-16 from the field with four assists as Seattle won Game 1 on Saturday night. The SuperSonics lead 1-0, and it's all but certain Bibby won't disappear again in Game 2 on Tuesday.
"He's human," Seattle guard Antonio Daniels said Monday. "Guys are going to have nights where they don't make shots or things don't go their way. He's still a very good player, obviously one of the best point guards in the league."
It certainly wasn't vintage Bibby, who's better known for turning things up in the postseason.
Bibby had 36 points, eight assists and five steals in a series-clinching win over Dallas last season. He averaged 22.7 points in the 2002 Western Conference finals against the Lakers.
But the Kings now play without Chris Webber and Doug Christie, two of Bibby's pals from Sacramento's recent playoff runs. Both were traded this season, leaving Bibby to lead the way.
"If you look at these playoffs series, a lot guys are having tough games," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "It's just how you respond to them. Mike has always responded, and I fully expect him to tomorrow."
It's not just Bibby who struggled in Game 1 for the Kings. Bobby Jackson, playing for only the second time since December after a wrist injury, went 0-for-7 with two assists.
"I'm over it," Jackson said. "It happens and all I can guarantee is that I won't play like that again. I didn't play bad. I think I was trying to do too much when I got out there. I just have to take my time and let the game come to me."
And it wasn't just Sacramento's point guards.
Seattle's Luke Ridnour was scoreless on 0-for-6 shooting. Yet he's been more embarrassed over the past two days every time reporters asked him to explain how he shut down Bibby.
For the record, Ridnour and Daniels did what they could to blanket Bibby and make him work for his looks. Seattle's big men helped by coming off screens.
Ultimately, though, Sacramento's star just had a miserable night.
"He missed shots early and he forced shots," Adelman said. "He didn't let the game come to him. And as the game went on, he got real impatient and tried to do things too quick. He wasn't letting us help him."
Will it happen again? Ask anyone on either team, and the consensus is that there's no way.
"He'll come back. It's just a matter of how we respond," said Seattle's Ray Allen, who had 28 points and 10 rebounds in Game 1.
The Kings are sure to make another adjustment, trying to limit Seattle's 51-44 rebounding edge in Game 1. Reggie Evans and Jerome James each collected eight of their 15 boards on offense.
"I'm pretty sure our big men will watch the tapes to see their favorite moves and what they like doing," said Cuttino Mobley, who scored 22 in Game 1. "We are going to expose them, too."
One thing worked well for Sacramento: double-teams on Allen and Rashard Lewis on the perimeter. The Sonics took advantage, though, with James scoring 17 points inside.
James also had five blocks and his 15 rebounds were a career high. He was asked if he can replicate the effort. "I've got more than that. I'm just getting started. I've been waiting my whole life for this," he said.
Or maybe he's just tired of talking, period.
The Kings point guard snubbed interviews Monday in Sacramento, perhaps showing his frustration from days of scrutiny after one of the worst games of his career.
Bibby shot just 1-for-16 from the field with four assists as Seattle won Game 1 on Saturday night. The SuperSonics lead 1-0, and it's all but certain Bibby won't disappear again in Game 2 on Tuesday.
"He's human," Seattle guard Antonio Daniels said Monday. "Guys are going to have nights where they don't make shots or things don't go their way. He's still a very good player, obviously one of the best point guards in the league."
It certainly wasn't vintage Bibby, who's better known for turning things up in the postseason.
Bibby had 36 points, eight assists and five steals in a series-clinching win over Dallas last season. He averaged 22.7 points in the 2002 Western Conference finals against the Lakers.
But the Kings now play without Chris Webber and Doug Christie, two of Bibby's pals from Sacramento's recent playoff runs. Both were traded this season, leaving Bibby to lead the way.
"If you look at these playoffs series, a lot guys are having tough games," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "It's just how you respond to them. Mike has always responded, and I fully expect him to tomorrow."
It's not just Bibby who struggled in Game 1 for the Kings. Bobby Jackson, playing for only the second time since December after a wrist injury, went 0-for-7 with two assists.
"I'm over it," Jackson said. "It happens and all I can guarantee is that I won't play like that again. I didn't play bad. I think I was trying to do too much when I got out there. I just have to take my time and let the game come to me."
And it wasn't just Sacramento's point guards.
Seattle's Luke Ridnour was scoreless on 0-for-6 shooting. Yet he's been more embarrassed over the past two days every time reporters asked him to explain how he shut down Bibby.
For the record, Ridnour and Daniels did what they could to blanket Bibby and make him work for his looks. Seattle's big men helped by coming off screens.
Ultimately, though, Sacramento's star just had a miserable night.
"He missed shots early and he forced shots," Adelman said. "He didn't let the game come to him. And as the game went on, he got real impatient and tried to do things too quick. He wasn't letting us help him."
Will it happen again? Ask anyone on either team, and the consensus is that there's no way.
"He'll come back. It's just a matter of how we respond," said Seattle's Ray Allen, who had 28 points and 10 rebounds in Game 1.
The Kings are sure to make another adjustment, trying to limit Seattle's 51-44 rebounding edge in Game 1. Reggie Evans and Jerome James each collected eight of their 15 boards on offense.
"I'm pretty sure our big men will watch the tapes to see their favorite moves and what they like doing," said Cuttino Mobley, who scored 22 in Game 1. "We are going to expose them, too."
One thing worked well for Sacramento: double-teams on Allen and Rashard Lewis on the perimeter. The Sonics took advantage, though, with James scoring 17 points inside.
James also had five blocks and his 15 rebounds were a career high. He was asked if he can replicate the effort. "I've got more than that. I'm just getting started. I've been waiting my whole life for this," he said.
