As Webber finds his way, Kings can't stand still By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Sunday, April 11, 2004 http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/ 8853563p-9780231c.html The Kings face the biggest game of the season knowing they are far from having learned to make the best use of their star player, Chris Webber. However, the Kings (54-25) will play the archrival Los Angeles Lakers (54-25) this afternoon at Arco Arena, and the winner will take a major step toward the Pacific Division title and the No. 1 or 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Kings lead the season series against the Lakers 2-1. With a triumph today, Sacramento would win the division title with a victory Monday at Denver or Wednesday at Golden State or a Lakers loss Tuesday to visiting Golden State or Wednesday at Portland. The Lakers have the league's best record (23-6) since the All-Star break . Sacramento has lost six of its past nine and is just 6-9 in its past 15 games. The Kings are 33-7 at home but just 2-2 in their past four at Arco. They also were pounded 115-91 on March 24 at the Staples Center by the Lakers, who used an aggressive defense to put the clamps on a stagnant Kings offense. The stakes are too high not to maximize Webber's offensive skills, not to play better on-ball defense or to let the Lakers control the offensive boards. Having so many glaring problems is an unusual way to enter both the season's most important game as well as the playoffs that begin next weekend. Kings coach Rick Adelman says his team must find a way to better use Webber but that winning today's game is the most pressing concern. "I agree there is something there, and we have to find a way," Adelman said of getting the most out of Webber, "but unfortunately, we don't have a lot of time to work with. Obviously, if you win the game, you have a chance to (likely) be the second seed in the conference. But more importantly, we need to get some confidence here. I don't think I've ever had 54 wins with three games to go and feel like it's really been a struggle. "But that's how we feel right now. I think one big victory, whether it's now or the first game of a playoff series or whatever, can change the whole mentality of the team. That's what's important. How do we play? Do we finish a game? Because it isn't going to be easy on Monday in Denver." It is interesting that even Webber's teammates and coach can't explain their offensive problems. The team that built the NBA's best record with an attack of movement, passing and shooting often comes to a standstill when Webber has the ball. The opposite often was true when the offense was run through Vlade Divac or Brad Miller while Webber rehabilitated his surgically repaired left knee and served an eight-game suspension during his 58-game absence. Kings guard Doug Christie said he's noticed that off-ball movement sometimes has stopped during the 20 games since Webber's return. "Personally, I always talk to Web, and he tells me what he wants me to do," Christie said. "But I agree, a lot of times we throw it in there, and guys are standing there staring at him. I try to cut off him or hit his man or do something to free him. "I don't know, because when Vlade gets down (in the low post), everybody is cutting. Web gets it, and everybody is kind of just standing like, Do what you do." Christie said that's not the worst option, but not the best. "That's cool, but it's the movement that makes everything happen," he said. "Not only does it free him up, but allows him, because he passes so well, to find somebody open. A lot of times I think we get to waiting , and it's just one guy on one side of the floor, instead of making sure everybody gets their spacing and then make our cuts." Adelman said the Kings should remember the March 24 loss and also must assess and display their hearts. "The hardest thing to do is to turn this thing around," he said. "But I asked them (Friday night) and then again (Saturday), 'What are you made of?' (註: 今天他們沒有練球，但有一起看比賽錄影帶。) "We can say this thing is going nowhere right now in the regular season, or we can make a stand and try to build on something. So that's what we've always done, and that's how we have to approach (today)." Divac says it is up to his teammates to figure out how to best use Webber on offense. "We are putting too much pressure on him the way we are playing with him," Divac said of Webber, who averaged 5.4 assists last season and averages five this season. "We have to help him out as a team and move and try to get open. "We have so much confidence in him and that he's going to score, and we're just standing there. That makes it tougher for him." Isolating Webber before his surgery gave him the opportunity to use his considerable skill and agility. He's still attempting to regain his agility. Meanwhile, his teammates might want to use theirs and move. --

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