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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12086650p-12956712c.html
'We're not the same team'
Despite 8 new faces, Kings coach Rick Adelman says team chemistry is solid.
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, January 20, 2005
The Kings are coming together on the fly, plugging in new faces and jersey numbers, players with varying skills without the luxury of much practice time.
The Kings employ eight new players on their roster this season, quite a few for a franchise that has been as accomplished as this one has recently.
Sacramento has surrounded core players Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, Brad Miller and Peja Stojakovic with veterans, including fifth starter Cuttino Mobley, and youngsters. Mobley hit the Arco Arena floor running after the Kings acquired him by trading Doug Christie to Orlando.
Chemistry, generally required to bond teams, hasn't been an issue in this season of change. There are still plenty of smiles and guffaws in Kings camp, with Webber leading the way by rolling out the welcome wagon in terms of hospitality and assists.
The Kings (26-11) have won five straight entering tonight's game. It has all been a pleasant surprise for coach Rick Adelman, who wasn't sure how the team would fare without departed team leader Vlade Divac and the classy and well-respected Christie, or how the additions would factor into the mix.
"The chemistry happened before," Adelman said. "Now we have to work at it, and it's been fine. Nothing (has gone wrong inside the locker room). The new guys coming in, it's all changed. We're not the same team that we've been in the past."
Webber said offseason chemistry concerns were overblown. He has spent time with Stojakovic and Miller away from the court and, as the new leader, has been accessible to incoming players.
Maurice Evans, considered a long shot in camp, has flourished. The team's best athlete started two games after the Christie trade and didn't raise an ounce of fuss when Mobley assumed the shooting-guard spot upon arrival, sounding thrilled to be on the roster.
"It's a business, and the Kings didn't bring Mobley here to sit," Evans said. "(Whether) I come off the bench or start, I'm going to give everything I have."
Eddie House was signed Jan. 7 to help lessen the blow of Bobby Jackson's wrist surgery. House has been a scorer his entire basketball life, until now. With the Kings, he has been a ballhandler by need, scoring eight points in his six-game tenure.
"It's about being a professional and doing what the team needs you to do," House said. "They want me to handle the ball, I handle the ball."
Kevin Martin, the Kings' first-round draft pick, showed promise in the preseason before taking a seat to look and learn.
"I'm trying to fit in and make plays when I do get out there," Martin said.
And Mobley has come in ready to shoot, ready to lead, ready to bark. He has played a paramount role in each of his three games, and his new teammates have responded to his verbal prodding.
"Sometimes when I think we need it, I think I'm the loudest one," he said. "I just have to make sure we're ready."
Tuesday night against Portland, though known for playing his core players and few others, Adelman had Stojakovic and Bibby on the bench for a large portion of the fourth period but received gutty efforts from Evans, Martin and Mobley. Stojakovic and Bibby returned fresh for the stretch run, and the Kings prevailed in overtime.
"For anybody to say that we're the same team we were (in the past) is crazy," Adelman said. "I mean, they're not being realistic. I'm not saying we can't get there. It's going to take a lot more work and our guys' understanding that they've got to earn that place.
"If we're consistent during the year and we get to the playoffs, we can cause problems, but we've got to get there first. In our conference, it's not a given unless you can really open up a nice spread over some of those teams that are at the .500 mark. "We're either going to gain ground on the elite teams, or we're going to stay where we are and maybe drop back. What do we want to do?"
'We're not the same team'
Despite 8 new faces, Kings coach Rick Adelman says team chemistry is solid.
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, January 20, 2005
The Kings are coming together on the fly, plugging in new faces and jersey numbers, players with varying skills without the luxury of much practice time.
The Kings employ eight new players on their roster this season, quite a few for a franchise that has been as accomplished as this one has recently.
Sacramento has surrounded core players Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, Brad Miller and Peja Stojakovic with veterans, including fifth starter Cuttino Mobley, and youngsters. Mobley hit the Arco Arena floor running after the Kings acquired him by trading Doug Christie to Orlando.
Chemistry, generally required to bond teams, hasn't been an issue in this season of change. There are still plenty of smiles and guffaws in Kings camp, with Webber leading the way by rolling out the welcome wagon in terms of hospitality and assists.
The Kings (26-11) have won five straight entering tonight's game. It has all been a pleasant surprise for coach Rick Adelman, who wasn't sure how the team would fare without departed team leader Vlade Divac and the classy and well-respected Christie, or how the additions would factor into the mix.
"The chemistry happened before," Adelman said. "Now we have to work at it, and it's been fine. Nothing (has gone wrong inside the locker room). The new guys coming in, it's all changed. We're not the same team that we've been in the past."
Webber said offseason chemistry concerns were overblown. He has spent time with Stojakovic and Miller away from the court and, as the new leader, has been accessible to incoming players.
Maurice Evans, considered a long shot in camp, has flourished. The team's best athlete started two games after the Christie trade and didn't raise an ounce of fuss when Mobley assumed the shooting-guard spot upon arrival, sounding thrilled to be on the roster.
"It's a business, and the Kings didn't bring Mobley here to sit," Evans said. "(Whether) I come off the bench or start, I'm going to give everything I have."
Eddie House was signed Jan. 7 to help lessen the blow of Bobby Jackson's wrist surgery. House has been a scorer his entire basketball life, until now. With the Kings, he has been a ballhandler by need, scoring eight points in his six-game tenure.
"It's about being a professional and doing what the team needs you to do," House said. "They want me to handle the ball, I handle the ball."
Kevin Martin, the Kings' first-round draft pick, showed promise in the preseason before taking a seat to look and learn.
"I'm trying to fit in and make plays when I do get out there," Martin said.
And Mobley has come in ready to shoot, ready to lead, ready to bark. He has played a paramount role in each of his three games, and his new teammates have responded to his verbal prodding.
"Sometimes when I think we need it, I think I'm the loudest one," he said. "I just have to make sure we're ready."
Tuesday night against Portland, though known for playing his core players and few others, Adelman had Stojakovic and Bibby on the bench for a large portion of the fourth period but received gutty efforts from Evans, Martin and Mobley. Stojakovic and Bibby returned fresh for the stretch run, and the Kings prevailed in overtime.
"For anybody to say that we're the same team we were (in the past) is crazy," Adelman said. "I mean, they're not being realistic. I'm not saying we can't get there. It's going to take a lot more work and our guys' understanding that they've got to earn that place.
"If we're consistent during the year and we get to the playoffs, we can cause problems, but we've got to get there first. In our conference, it's not a given unless you can really open up a nice spread over some of those teams that are at the .500 mark. "We're either going to gain ground on the elite teams, or we're going to stay where we are and maybe drop back. What do we want to do?"
