http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/136318.html
Ailene Voisin: Even with all the pieces, Kings can't get it together
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Sports Columnist
Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, March 12, 2007
Ron Artest returns to cheers, and the Kings are booed.
Isn't that just so typical of the season?
The Kings get healthy, and they can't get it together. They just can't seem to stand success. They invite the Denver Nuggets into their home Sunday -- into another full house and in front of a national television audience -- and squander a perfect opportunity to announce their presence among Western Conference playoff teams.
Click Here
Instead, it's Nuggets 113, Kings 101.
Instead, it's official. NBA lottery talk has been revived.
Consecutive home-court losses count tenfold this time of year, particularly in light of the Kings' upcoming five-game road swing through the Eastern Conference. This was the last week to be greedy, to feast on a favorable home schedule. Yet instead of scooting off to Cleveland, Charlotte, Miami, Orlando and Atlanta with their mood uplifted, their team chemistry appreciably improved, and their sense of self reinforced by their recent sprint toward a potential postseason berth, the Kings again are resembling a group of players moving in different directions. One can only hope they all board the same flight. That presupposes, of course, that they all arrive at the same airport.
The extra pass, gone.
The help defense, gone.
The effort for loose balls and long rebounds, gone.
The very identity that so eluded the Kings until recent weeks, the one initiated by steals, deflections and rebounds, the one resulting in dunks, driving layups and a much quicker, more entertaining style, has been supplanted by a less flattering, far less effective look. Sort of a death-by-dribbling or snails-on-Valium approach. Eric Musselman's squad -- which mere days ago was intent on racing between baselines -- combined for a deadly six fast-break points, the only pitch-ahead passes being tossed by the Nuggets.
"Just when it appeared to be sinking in, we revert back to our old ways," Corliss Williamson said. "We played too much one-on-one basketball, instead of playing like a team. It's disappointing. We knew we had a chance at moving into the No. 8 ... we had Ron back ... "
Clearly, Artest's presence should have provided an emotional boost, especially after he was applauded during pregame introductions. If there were any dissenters present -- fans intent on voicing their displeasure about Artest's arrest on domestic violence charges -- they must have retreated to the concourses. The booing that occurred later in the afternoon was directed at the team, or about the time it became apparent that Artest's typically superb defense was failing to compensate for his teammates' stagnant offensive execution and overall lack of sharpness, as well as his own tendency to force shots and dominate the ball.
"We didn't get the stops we usually get," noted Mike Bibby. "We weren't helping each other tonight -- not a lot of rebounding. We just weren't helping each other.' "
As the solo acts persisted throughout the second half, the fans became restless and bored, and as has happened on numerous occasions this season, more than willing to vent for a variety of reasons: Brad Miller's missed layups. Kevin Martin's defensive lapse. Bibby's costly turnovers. Shareef Abdur-Rahim's ill-advised long jumper. Artest's insistence on initiating the offense during critical segments, usurping the duties of the more sure-handed Bibby.
Indeed, the building had long emptied by the time Artest showered, collected his thoughts and entertained questions in the locker room.
Dressed in a striped long-sleeved shirt, jeans and sneakers, he appeared subdued, perhaps even a bit nervous. He continually tugged at the cuff on his right sleeve. He seldom made eye contact with reporters. He was reluctant to elaborate on much of anything.
"I felt great," he said softly. "A couple shots went in and out. A couple threes went in and out. My defense was OK -- I got a couple steals."
Asked about the applause during introductions, Artest nodded.
"I got the same amount of cheers (as usual)," he added. "It felt like old times."
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@ sacbee.com.
Ailene Voisin: Even with all the pieces, Kings can't get it together
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Sports Columnist
Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, March 12, 2007
Ron Artest returns to cheers, and the Kings are booed.
Isn't that just so typical of the season?
The Kings get healthy, and they can't get it together. They just can't seem to stand success. They invite the Denver Nuggets into their home Sunday -- into another full house and in front of a national television audience -- and squander a perfect opportunity to announce their presence among Western Conference playoff teams.
Click Here
Instead, it's Nuggets 113, Kings 101.
Instead, it's official. NBA lottery talk has been revived.
Consecutive home-court losses count tenfold this time of year, particularly in light of the Kings' upcoming five-game road swing through the Eastern Conference. This was the last week to be greedy, to feast on a favorable home schedule. Yet instead of scooting off to Cleveland, Charlotte, Miami, Orlando and Atlanta with their mood uplifted, their team chemistry appreciably improved, and their sense of self reinforced by their recent sprint toward a potential postseason berth, the Kings again are resembling a group of players moving in different directions. One can only hope they all board the same flight. That presupposes, of course, that they all arrive at the same airport.
The extra pass, gone.
The help defense, gone.
The effort for loose balls and long rebounds, gone.
The very identity that so eluded the Kings until recent weeks, the one initiated by steals, deflections and rebounds, the one resulting in dunks, driving layups and a much quicker, more entertaining style, has been supplanted by a less flattering, far less effective look. Sort of a death-by-dribbling or snails-on-Valium approach. Eric Musselman's squad -- which mere days ago was intent on racing between baselines -- combined for a deadly six fast-break points, the only pitch-ahead passes being tossed by the Nuggets.
"Just when it appeared to be sinking in, we revert back to our old ways," Corliss Williamson said. "We played too much one-on-one basketball, instead of playing like a team. It's disappointing. We knew we had a chance at moving into the No. 8 ... we had Ron back ... "
Clearly, Artest's presence should have provided an emotional boost, especially after he was applauded during pregame introductions. If there were any dissenters present -- fans intent on voicing their displeasure about Artest's arrest on domestic violence charges -- they must have retreated to the concourses. The booing that occurred later in the afternoon was directed at the team, or about the time it became apparent that Artest's typically superb defense was failing to compensate for his teammates' stagnant offensive execution and overall lack of sharpness, as well as his own tendency to force shots and dominate the ball.
"We didn't get the stops we usually get," noted Mike Bibby. "We weren't helping each other tonight -- not a lot of rebounding. We just weren't helping each other.' "
As the solo acts persisted throughout the second half, the fans became restless and bored, and as has happened on numerous occasions this season, more than willing to vent for a variety of reasons: Brad Miller's missed layups. Kevin Martin's defensive lapse. Bibby's costly turnovers. Shareef Abdur-Rahim's ill-advised long jumper. Artest's insistence on initiating the offense during critical segments, usurping the duties of the more sure-handed Bibby.
Indeed, the building had long emptied by the time Artest showered, collected his thoughts and entertained questions in the locker room.
Dressed in a striped long-sleeved shirt, jeans and sneakers, he appeared subdued, perhaps even a bit nervous. He continually tugged at the cuff on his right sleeve. He seldom made eye contact with reporters. He was reluctant to elaborate on much of anything.
"I felt great," he said softly. "A couple shots went in and out. A couple threes went in and out. My defense was OK -- I got a couple steals."
Asked about the applause during introductions, Artest nodded.
"I got the same amount of cheers (as usual)," he added. "It felt like old times."
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@ sacbee.com.
