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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12512400p-13367821c.html
Things aren't looking up for this team
The Kings' road trip ends with a rout by the Miami Heat and leaves them in search of needed answers.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, March 5, 2005
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MIAMI - Fatigue, confusion, unfamiliarity and playing an Eastern Conference power to end a six-game road trip was too much for the Kings on Friday night.
At the start of the season, no one would have imagined that when the Kings and reconstructed Miami Heat, featuring Shaquille O'Neal, met in March, Sacramento would be the team floundering and flopping like a fish gasping for air.
But that's what's real, and the Kings had a 104-83 Miami smackdown to take back to Sacramento with them.
The Kings concluded their 11-day voyage to Dallas and the East Coast with a 2-4 record and three-game losing streak. Chris Webber, widely acknowledged by the Kings as their best player, is now hooping for Philadelphia. Center Brad Miller has missed the last three games because of a right calf contusion. And this morning, three new players - Corliss Williamson, Kenny Thomas and Brian Skinner - will see their temporary digs for the first time since being acquired by the Kings.
Oh, yes, don't forget that Sunday afternoon date with the Detroit Pistons. Kings coach Rick Adelman hasn't.
The Kings had absolutely no threat to score in the paint. Primarily a jump-shooting team, they veered away from the middle against the Heat, especially early in the game, as if O'Neal already had the chief-of-police gig he wants when he retires and had issued an order.
According to Adelman, the Kings just lacked energy.
"We're a jump-shooting team," the coach said after his team was outscored 40-22 in the paint on a night O'Neal had just 18 points and seven rebounds. "I'm just telling you, we played the way our energy level was.
"We have to get home and re-group. It's not going to be easy. All we've got is the world champions at 12:30 p.m. about 36 hours from now. I want to thank the league for that one."
The Kings have only scored fewer than 83 points three times this season, and right now, they are attempting to piece their game together on the fly.
The Kings have lost 10 of their last 14 games since winning back-to-back games against the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers and are 16-16 on the road.
Only twice in those 14 games did the Kings hold the opposition to fewer than 100 points. With an offense robbed of its fluidity and educated movements, the Kings' defensive woes are more visible and damning.
Against the Heat, the Kings struggled in the first half, attempting to hang with Miami with a perimeter offense and rarely getting any baskets from their defense. But when the Kings scored the first three baskets of the third quarter, they trailed just 48-47.
But the Kings never caught the Heat because they didn't fully commit to defense. Perhaps fatigue played a role, but it appeared they could have given more intensity to reach the baseline and not allow a clear path to the basket. They also could have reached opposing shooters quicker and put their respective hands up to challenge wide-open jump shots.
"We've got to play defense better," said guard Eddie House, who might see more minutes if Cuttino Mobley's back troubles him Sunday. "That's all there is to it."
Kings guard Mike Bibby believes it's about effort. "We've got to work harder and take more pride, show more pride," he said. "We've got to help each other because sometimes it's not there. It's hard to stay in front of your man all the time, but we've got to focus better on the ball, too."
Things aren't looking up for this team
The Kings' road trip ends with a rout by the Miami Heat and leaves them in search of needed answers.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, March 5, 2005
Get the latest news in sacbee.com's Kings Alert newsletter. Sign up here.
MIAMI - Fatigue, confusion, unfamiliarity and playing an Eastern Conference power to end a six-game road trip was too much for the Kings on Friday night.
At the start of the season, no one would have imagined that when the Kings and reconstructed Miami Heat, featuring Shaquille O'Neal, met in March, Sacramento would be the team floundering and flopping like a fish gasping for air.
But that's what's real, and the Kings had a 104-83 Miami smackdown to take back to Sacramento with them.
The Kings concluded their 11-day voyage to Dallas and the East Coast with a 2-4 record and three-game losing streak. Chris Webber, widely acknowledged by the Kings as their best player, is now hooping for Philadelphia. Center Brad Miller has missed the last three games because of a right calf contusion. And this morning, three new players - Corliss Williamson, Kenny Thomas and Brian Skinner - will see their temporary digs for the first time since being acquired by the Kings.
Oh, yes, don't forget that Sunday afternoon date with the Detroit Pistons. Kings coach Rick Adelman hasn't.
The Kings had absolutely no threat to score in the paint. Primarily a jump-shooting team, they veered away from the middle against the Heat, especially early in the game, as if O'Neal already had the chief-of-police gig he wants when he retires and had issued an order.
According to Adelman, the Kings just lacked energy.
"We're a jump-shooting team," the coach said after his team was outscored 40-22 in the paint on a night O'Neal had just 18 points and seven rebounds. "I'm just telling you, we played the way our energy level was.
"We have to get home and re-group. It's not going to be easy. All we've got is the world champions at 12:30 p.m. about 36 hours from now. I want to thank the league for that one."
The Kings have only scored fewer than 83 points three times this season, and right now, they are attempting to piece their game together on the fly.
The Kings have lost 10 of their last 14 games since winning back-to-back games against the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers and are 16-16 on the road.
Only twice in those 14 games did the Kings hold the opposition to fewer than 100 points. With an offense robbed of its fluidity and educated movements, the Kings' defensive woes are more visible and damning.
Against the Heat, the Kings struggled in the first half, attempting to hang with Miami with a perimeter offense and rarely getting any baskets from their defense. But when the Kings scored the first three baskets of the third quarter, they trailed just 48-47.
But the Kings never caught the Heat because they didn't fully commit to defense. Perhaps fatigue played a role, but it appeared they could have given more intensity to reach the baseline and not allow a clear path to the basket. They also could have reached opposing shooters quicker and put their respective hands up to challenge wide-open jump shots.
"We've got to play defense better," said guard Eddie House, who might see more minutes if Cuttino Mobley's back troubles him Sunday. "That's all there is to it."
Kings guard Mike Bibby believes it's about effort. "We've got to work harder and take more pride, show more pride," he said. "We've got to help each other because sometimes it's not there. It's hard to stay in front of your man all the time, but we've got to focus better on the ball, too."
I only watched cause I enjoyed the game! I fell in love with the team and there was no looking back. Even 20 yrs from now I will still be cheering and supporting the team as if I did from day 1. Winning a championship is always great... but watching the guys play basketball, the game I love, is good enough for me for that is the really reason I became a fan. 
That daft fellow 
