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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/11889348p-12776194c.html
Time to panic? Not for Petrie
The Kings' president will not be swayed by a poor homestand.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, December 29, 2004
A 2-3 homestand that concluded Sunday night with a second-half collapse and subsequent loss to the Golden State Warriors was enough cause for re-assessment around the Kings' neighborhood.
And even patient Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie quickly blurted out what he'd like for a late Christmas present.
"I'd love to get LeBron James," he said jokingly Tuesday afternoon.
Petrie said the Kings team - now 17-9, fourth in the Western Conference - that lost to the Warriors is the one that will play against the Utah Jazz on Friday night in Salt Lake City.
"The team we have right now is the one we're going to have to continue to work with," said Petrie, who was scouting a Portland, Ore., high school tournament. "You'd always like to build and work to try to improve your team. But if something ever comes along and we decide to improve by going that route, then we'll think about it."
Petrie will be the last one to talk about any impending Kings' moves. It's not his style.
Petrie looks at the team's season as a whole, not just in the aftermath of Sunday's loss.
"It's easy to overreact," he said. "We started off the season slowly, then won 14 of 16. (Last week), we lost a tough game to Miami and then planned on beating Golden State, but that didn't happen. That's how the league is.
"We're a good team that can become a better team with the function of a lot of things."
The Kings' nine losses are the fifth fewest in the NBA.
Petrie pointed out phases of the game in which the Kings clearly can improve.
"We've struggled to close out games where we've played well for majority portions of the game," he said. "Our rebounding has improved somewhat, but has to continue to improve. Our overall commitment to individual defense in the team concept has got to get better. Offensively, generally we score enough to win games."
After two days off, the Kings will practice today at their training facility. They entered Tuesday night's NBA action - tied with the Orlando Magic at 101.8 points per game - as the league's second-highest scoring teams behind the Phoenix Suns (109.3). The Kings are 21st in the NBA in allowed points per game (98.5).
The Kings' field-goal percentage against (.441) ranks in the middle of the league but is also much lower than it was earlier this season and also last season (.454).
The Kings continue to lead the league in assists per game and assists/turnover ratio. Petrie acknowledged his team's glaring flaws and agreed when it was pointed out every other team possesses weaknesses. "We've got nothing going," Petrie said with regards to possible trades. "Speculation is fine for other people, but I just don't see any reason to do it when there is no basis in fact."
Time to panic? Not for Petrie
The Kings' president will not be swayed by a poor homestand.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, December 29, 2004
A 2-3 homestand that concluded Sunday night with a second-half collapse and subsequent loss to the Golden State Warriors was enough cause for re-assessment around the Kings' neighborhood.
And even patient Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie quickly blurted out what he'd like for a late Christmas present.
"I'd love to get LeBron James," he said jokingly Tuesday afternoon.
Petrie said the Kings team - now 17-9, fourth in the Western Conference - that lost to the Warriors is the one that will play against the Utah Jazz on Friday night in Salt Lake City.
"The team we have right now is the one we're going to have to continue to work with," said Petrie, who was scouting a Portland, Ore., high school tournament. "You'd always like to build and work to try to improve your team. But if something ever comes along and we decide to improve by going that route, then we'll think about it."
Petrie will be the last one to talk about any impending Kings' moves. It's not his style.
Petrie looks at the team's season as a whole, not just in the aftermath of Sunday's loss.
"It's easy to overreact," he said. "We started off the season slowly, then won 14 of 16. (Last week), we lost a tough game to Miami and then planned on beating Golden State, but that didn't happen. That's how the league is.
"We're a good team that can become a better team with the function of a lot of things."
The Kings' nine losses are the fifth fewest in the NBA.
Petrie pointed out phases of the game in which the Kings clearly can improve.
"We've struggled to close out games where we've played well for majority portions of the game," he said. "Our rebounding has improved somewhat, but has to continue to improve. Our overall commitment to individual defense in the team concept has got to get better. Offensively, generally we score enough to win games."
After two days off, the Kings will practice today at their training facility. They entered Tuesday night's NBA action - tied with the Orlando Magic at 101.8 points per game - as the league's second-highest scoring teams behind the Phoenix Suns (109.3). The Kings are 21st in the NBA in allowed points per game (98.5).
The Kings' field-goal percentage against (.441) ranks in the middle of the league but is also much lower than it was earlier this season and also last season (.454).
The Kings continue to lead the league in assists per game and assists/turnover ratio. Petrie acknowledged his team's glaring flaws and agreed when it was pointed out every other team possesses weaknesses. "We've got nothing going," Petrie said with regards to possible trades. "Speculation is fine for other people, but I just don't see any reason to do it when there is no basis in fact."
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That'll be something if LeBron was in the Kings!
