.
The Kings better realize real quick that when you are in first place it
is just like having a bullseye painted on you to the other teams
trying to get where you are.
.

WILL WIN 41 EVER ARRIVE?

Q

Gosh, it was back at 39-12 that I looked forward to a 41-12 record, but the Kings have gone 1-3 since then and are 40-15 instead. The Jazz come into ARCO with a six game winning streak and a recent 6-2 road trek, and perhaps a need for some payback (not unlike the Spurs laid on the Kings a couple games back). The Kings should win this one handily (but then they should have beaten the Spurs too).

Right now, the Jazz, Trailblazers and Nets are tearing it up, and the Mavericks, Lakers and Timberwolves are on the rise. Meanwhile the Kings are on a swoon...

When are these guys going to wake up? Tonight? I would not bet money on it, but I sure hope so.

Reno Lady

The Kings apparently are going to sign Chucky Brown. The Bee article didn't say if it's for the rest of the season or for 10 days. I have nothing against Chucky Brown but was hoping they'd sign someone bigger!

The Kings, player by player, are starting to acknowledge something I mentioned a couple of days ago: they're playing too tentatively right now. They need to push the ball, push, the other team, push themselves and get back to where they were a couple of weeks ago. Mike Bibby stepped up and took some of the blame himself in the SacBee's article today. I admire that in players, when they can say "I" need to be better.

Critic

I think their shooters are fine. Off the parts of games I have seen recently the (offensive) problem seemed to be that they weren't running enough without the ball and weren't setting away-from-ball screens to free up shooters. When at their best, the many Kings' shooters run their men off of away-from-ball screens and get super open looks. If their offense is reverting back to dump it to a star (whether CWebb or Peja) and let him work for a shot (i.e. jab step, fake, JS from just inside the 3 line), or if only the center will set screens away from the ball, then they may struggle against good teams.

On defense, it's always all about effort. Sure didn't look like all that much effort to me in the nationally televised butt-whippings. I've seen them play good D earlier in the year, so it isn't a matter of lack of ability or a lack of a defensive scheme. I did wonder, like many here, why RA let Nash abuse Bibby for so LONG w/o putting in BJ. I think they needed a day off to think and not work. If they are physically tired, then they need to figure out a way to dig deeper mentally and emotionally, and commit to running on both ends of the court. That running-and-passing offensive style, which I think is their best, takes some energy and if they are hustling on defense then the combination doesn't fit well with playing the starting forwards 40+ minutes in all close games. Their current avg. minutes are deceiving because there have been so many blow-outs -- in both directions. I think they'd do better if CWebb and Peja played about 36 minutes per game but had their legs under them in crunch time and when on the court busted thier butts for the entire 36 minutes. That's only 8 or so more minutes, and whether Pollard, Turkoglu, Funderburke or Wallace got those minutes I think they'd be better off. Actually, they could go smaller and let BJ get some of the minutes too. Admittedly, I've long been influenced by the John Thompson style of 100% effort coupled with plenty of substitutions. What do I think RA will do? What he's been doing this year and last -- play Webber and Peja 40+ minutes each in all "live" games.

MORE

Bonnie49erKings

My opinion of why we lost the last two games, loss of defensive intensity, and it seems most all of you and everyone else saw the same thing. It's not rocket science.

Most of that flatness came from Vlade, Bibby, Peja, and Hedo. Even Pollard didn't play as hard as he usually does. That lack of intensity forced us into a half-court game, where we can play well, but only play well enough to keep close. Our half-court

game struggles when we have to come from behind because we still panic and take bad shots and try to hurry things, not passing the ball around. Bobby Jackson is the main culprit, but he's not alone. I'll even add Webber to a couple of those (although I'll forgive him since he was the ONLY player even making his shots).

The way we normally come from behind is with intense defense, and fast break offense. The team even managed to create a few of those and then have brain fades and blow the shot. Hedo needs to learn how to run those fast breaks and Bobby needs to lean to pass the ball more. A few of those made and the momentum shifts and we're back in the game. Missing them only gave the Mavs their own break and we scrambled on defense, and a bigger margin.

That lack of defensive intensity might have even gotten us through a victory if we'd been playing another Atlanta team. But to play two teams that particular targeted us and came out with some of their most intense play all season, we never really had a chance. Even up 4 at half time in Dallas, I knew we weren't going to win. They were getting any shot they wanted and we were struggling with shots. It was only a matter of time.

The Spurs and Mavs brought playoff intensity, and we met it with passiveness.

And one question. When will Scot Pollard EVER realize that all LaFrentz does is shot 3s? Pollard NEVER comes out to guard him and Raef stands there all day shooting 3s. Hello? Scot? He did this all the time in Denver! He probably lit you up in Kansas, too!!

Is it a slump? We'll see how the team responds tonight against the Jazz who are another team who really wants to take it to us and are on a hot streak (however as Reno Lady points out, against sub-500 teams). At least we're in ARCO. Let's hope the crowd can get the Kings intensity level back up.

LOOKING AT GARRY ST. JEAN

Kingme

As for Garry St. Jean, we will never know what kind of coach he would have been if he had good/great players on the team. It's very fashionable right now to bash him, and I've heard a lot of posters say how great Adleman is compared to him, and just generally make derogatory comments about his abilities as a coach and GM (And always prefaced with "he's a nice guy, but..."). You're only as good as your talent, and Saint had very little. When he did have some, the '95/96 squad, he made the most of it, and we had a good showing in the playoffs (considering we were a sub .500 team!). Remember, when Adleman had a mediocre team at GS, he didn't do well at all, and was derided in the press and by the fans. In fact, I'd say with the talent Adleman had, he did worse than Saint, comparatively speaking. Which brings up the question, since Adelman failed before with a team with a little talent, is he really getting the most out of this very, very talented Kings team? And for the record, Saint is a wonderful person; he loved the Kings and Sac just as we fans do. To me, that means a lot.

Jeff

My opinion of Saint is that he took teams with enough talent to finish 7th or 8th and always got them to underacheive and miss the playoffs. His teams had a horrible attitude and they expected to lose anytime the other team made a run. If you are going to villify Adelman for his not being able to control the attitudes of his players, then you need to be taking a guy like Saint out in a hail of contempt.

And his history in Golden State as GM speaks for itself. The guy is always making a trade just to make a trade...Do you want a list of his prowress as a GM?

How about falling for Toronto's trap in the Vince Carter deal? Golden State wanted Jamison (why?) but toronto who was picking before them threatened to trade their pick to Dallas so Dallas could take Antawn. So, golden State doesn't say, "well if I can't get that Corliss Williamson clone tweener forward, I guess we will take Vince Carter", no instead they agree to pick Carter and trade him AND (!) $300K for Jamison.

Then there is the pick that was to be Jason Terry for Vonteego Cummings and Mookie Blaylock. Waiving Jon Barry, Tony Delk and Matt Maloney. signed Mark Price to a big fat free agent contract then traded him the next year for Brian Shaw. Signed Jason Caffey to a huge contract based on a half season of good play. Traded Joe Smith to Philly for Jimmy Jackson (about 2 years after he stopped being the flavor of the month). Told everyone who would listen that he was going to sign Mitch Richmond (who was just using Saint as leverage for a bigger deal in Washington), then ended up with Tim Legler as his big free agent signing. Signed Erik Dampier to a huge deal.

He hurt one of his assistants and basically blocked his movement upward to head coach by requesting too much from Washington after agreeing in principle to let the guy take the job.

And he has built a last-place team that has a player payroll equal to Dallas, Minnesota, and New Jersey eventhough his team plays in one of the most attractive places to live in the country.

COMING TO ADELMAN'S DEFENSE

Kingboy00

Sure he's been set in his rotation for the last 4 games, but who has he had available?? He can't even hold a 5 on 5 practice. Bobby, Hedo and Scot are the bench. Fundy is a good bench guy player but he wouldn't have matched up well against these teams. He is better against banger teams. He's not gonna be at his best in run and gun games like Atlanta, San Antonio and Dallas. Are you aware that most teams run an 8 or 9 man rotation?? Especially during the 2nd half of the season. As for him riding his star, why shouldn't he?? When you need something to happen, why wouldn't you put the ball in the hands of your best player. It's CWebb's responsiblity to step up and do the right thing. Whether it's as simple as running the offense from the high post, getting a clutch hoop, going to the line or finding the open man, you have to let your stars make the right plays.

blackluv

hello all! I tell you, I love how intensely we all love our team but to see everyone panic like this, you would think we were in danger of not making the playoffs. The whole league is still chasing the Kings and the Kings are in charge if their own destiny. I would rather they work out these little details now than say in April. And yes I see it’s all the coach's and Webber’s fault posts again and that made me laugh out loud. If you are truly honest with your selves (those of you who like to blame the same 2 every time), I want to see you give Webber and Coach most of the credit when we are winning again the truth is the TEAM needs to work this out together and they will. Also, that long eastern road trip will only help. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Kings sweep that. They are doing a fantastic Job against the East so far. GO KINGS!!!!