http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14232926p-15054965c.html
To Artest, two-game slide is just part of ride
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Ron Artest isn't concerned.
You won't detect it in his expressions or his tone - and certainly not through his words. The Kings forward sized up Sacramento's two-game skid, how he and his running mates coughed away winnable games in Indiana and Minnesota, and how it thrust all hands right back into full scramble mode.
So what does he see beyond the ever-deadly and dangerous Ray Allen and the Seattle SuperSonics coming into Arco Arena tonight followed by an increasingly critical stretch with the Lakers, Utah and Golden State? A bright future, that's what, rose-colorerd glasses not needed.
"We had two bad games," Artest explained. "We're going to get back. We're not worried about it. We're going to be fine. We're still going to make the playoffs. We're not going to lose in the first round, then take it from there."
So now the Kings are second-round playoff material. What happens with a four-game skid? Conference finalists?
Artest, remember, boldly declared that after losing close games in Boston and Toronto to close out January that the then-18-26 Kings would make the postseason.
Rick Adelman, meanwhile, reminds his players that there is about as much margin for error from here on out as Artest allows a foe space when he defends him. Which is to say, none.
"These guys have got to understand that with 16 games to go, you don't want to get to the point where you have seven games left and you have to win them all," the coach said. "A number of things can happen. You can go on a run and separate yourself. You can win one out of two games and go down to the wire. Or if you go on any kind of losing streak at all, someone can separate from you, and then you have your backs against the wall. The urgency has to be there every day, whether it's games, practices or meetings."
Adelman said it wasn't a lack of effort that disappointed him in the 98-93 setback to Indiana on Friday and 95-89 to Minnesota on Sunday. It was focus. Blown layups against the Pacers (15) and blown chances against the Timberwolves (a Kings season-high and NBA season-high-tying 28 turnovers).
"We're not San Antonio and Dallas," Adelman said, pointing to the Western Conference front-runners that can afford to hiccup every now and then. "That's the thing. We won eight out of 10 games, and everyone jumped, 'Geez, these guys have arrived.' Well, no. We hadn't arrived. We had a nice little run, but we haven't gotten anywhere yet."
The Kings are a half-game behind the seventh-place Lakers in the Western Conference standings. New Orleans, which has played two fewer games, is one game back and Utah is two games back. The top eight teams go to the playoffs.
Kings guard Bonzi Wells said Adelman made it clear he was disappointed with the team's makeup.
"He told us he didn't like our demeanor," Wells said. "We have a good first quarter at Indiana, and we go downhill from that. He's got the best seat in the house. That's the coach's job, to let us know what we're doing right and what we're doing wrong, and he was right. But it's too early to hit the panic button or anything. We win again and we'll be fine."
Tonight could mark the return of Francisco García. The key Kings reserve has been out since March 1 with an ankle injury, though he managed his most rigorous practice since the injury on Monday.
"I'm ready to come back," García said. "Tired of watching."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
To Artest, two-game slide is just part of ride
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Ron Artest isn't concerned.
You won't detect it in his expressions or his tone - and certainly not through his words. The Kings forward sized up Sacramento's two-game skid, how he and his running mates coughed away winnable games in Indiana and Minnesota, and how it thrust all hands right back into full scramble mode.
So what does he see beyond the ever-deadly and dangerous Ray Allen and the Seattle SuperSonics coming into Arco Arena tonight followed by an increasingly critical stretch with the Lakers, Utah and Golden State? A bright future, that's what, rose-colorerd glasses not needed.
"We had two bad games," Artest explained. "We're going to get back. We're not worried about it. We're going to be fine. We're still going to make the playoffs. We're not going to lose in the first round, then take it from there."
So now the Kings are second-round playoff material. What happens with a four-game skid? Conference finalists?
Artest, remember, boldly declared that after losing close games in Boston and Toronto to close out January that the then-18-26 Kings would make the postseason.
Rick Adelman, meanwhile, reminds his players that there is about as much margin for error from here on out as Artest allows a foe space when he defends him. Which is to say, none.
"These guys have got to understand that with 16 games to go, you don't want to get to the point where you have seven games left and you have to win them all," the coach said. "A number of things can happen. You can go on a run and separate yourself. You can win one out of two games and go down to the wire. Or if you go on any kind of losing streak at all, someone can separate from you, and then you have your backs against the wall. The urgency has to be there every day, whether it's games, practices or meetings."
Adelman said it wasn't a lack of effort that disappointed him in the 98-93 setback to Indiana on Friday and 95-89 to Minnesota on Sunday. It was focus. Blown layups against the Pacers (15) and blown chances against the Timberwolves (a Kings season-high and NBA season-high-tying 28 turnovers).
"We're not San Antonio and Dallas," Adelman said, pointing to the Western Conference front-runners that can afford to hiccup every now and then. "That's the thing. We won eight out of 10 games, and everyone jumped, 'Geez, these guys have arrived.' Well, no. We hadn't arrived. We had a nice little run, but we haven't gotten anywhere yet."
The Kings are a half-game behind the seventh-place Lakers in the Western Conference standings. New Orleans, which has played two fewer games, is one game back and Utah is two games back. The top eight teams go to the playoffs.
Kings guard Bonzi Wells said Adelman made it clear he was disappointed with the team's makeup.
"He told us he didn't like our demeanor," Wells said. "We have a good first quarter at Indiana, and we go downhill from that. He's got the best seat in the house. That's the coach's job, to let us know what we're doing right and what we're doing wrong, and he was right. But it's too early to hit the panic button or anything. We win again and we'll be fine."
Tonight could mark the return of Francisco García. The key Kings reserve has been out since March 1 with an ankle injury, though he managed his most rigorous practice since the injury on Monday.
"I'm ready to come back," García said. "Tired of watching."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
