Beno, 6th Man Helping Kings Silence Doubters
November 28, 2009 by Andrew Nicholson
The Kings completed their last home stand with a successful 3-1 record and two games into their current four-game stay at ARCO Arena, they are 2-0, proving pundits wrong and showing continual improvement on the defensive end.
“There’s no one explanation for it,” Coach Paul Westphal said of the team’s impressive 6-2 record at home this season. “Teams do better at home. It’s a fact. The first step is to learn to win at home. The second step is to learn to win on the road. When you learn to do both, then you have a really good team. We’re taking steps in that direction and we want to keep taking care of business at home and go out on the road and see if we can get some there.”
Entering Friday’s game in Sacramento, the New Jersey Nets were the only team in the League without a win. After hearing national analysts predict the Nets would earn their first win in California’s capital, the Kings used it as further fuel to burn their competitive fires.
“They have the Lakers and Dallas (next) and they’re facing the Kings (on Friday),” rookie Omri Casspi said smiling, a day after tallying a career-high 18 points. “They probably thought they were going to come in here and win, and we proved them wrong. So maybe they’re going to win in STAPLES Center, but not in ARCO.”
Watch – Kings Practice: Omri Casspi.
Along with Casspi’s outstanding and timely play, including hitting 3-of-4 clutch free throws late in the fourth quarter, Spencer Hawes’ 16-point, 10-rebound double-double and Beno Udrih and Tyreke Evans’ team-high tying 21-point efforts, the Kings protected home court with their defense.
“Defensively, we’re getting better all the time,” Westphal said. “We’re sticking to the game plan. We’re, for the most part, making (the opponent) take shots from the outside and limiting them to one shot. Everything else feeds off that.”
Watch – Kings Practice: Coach Westphal.
With a trusting and active defense and relentless effort on the glass, the team is able to deliver more highlight-reel plays on offense.
“It definitely (allows) us to fast break much more often, instead of taking it through the net and taking it out of bounds. It takes two seconds immediately off,” Beno Udrih said. “We’ve gotten a lot more transition points this year than last year, so it helps a lot.”
The Kings look to build on the two-game winning-streak momentum they’ve gained on Sunday at 6 p.m. against New Orleans, who will be without injured All-Star point guard Chris Paul. Despite his absence, the Hornets have won four out of the last five outings.
“They’re still a good team,” Udrih said. “They’re playing better than the last two teams that we’ve played, so we have to come in and be even more focused than we were and play even harder and get that third win in a row.”
Watch – Kings Practice: Beno Udrih.
With the number of injuries the team has sustained and the prevalence of scratches and bruises the players maintain, it’s hard to imagine the Kings playing more focused and harder, but the team isn’t looking to slow down anytime soon. The Kings are on a mission, and they’re only 16 games into it.
“We just want to prove everybody wrong, basically,” Udrih said. “We know we are a good team and we can win games, especially at home. We have to defend our home court. I’m not saying we’re going to win all of them, but if we win most of them and maybe a couple on the road, we can be a .500 team easily, especially with the home crowd, the 6th man, it’s much easier to win.”
Injury update: Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson are questionable and probable for Sunday’s game, respectively. Hawes has a bruised right knee and Thompson has a bruised lower back.
Watch the exciting young Kings take on the Hornets at ARCO Arena. Buy tickets now.
Beno gives great perspective on the team. His comments on trust in the video were great. Nobody thought the Kings would be 8-8 without Kmart and Flaco. I'm so proud to be a Kings fan! Three in a row here we go!
Casspi pounding his chest and staring at CDR was sick. Dude just goes all out all the time.
Kings have a impressive home court record, now just improve your away record and everything will come together. GO KINGS!!!
Knicks …Nets….Warriors…it's a good sign when the Kings win the games they're suppose to win…staying focused and sticking to the plan and making smart decisions….like Durant said,
they'll sneek up on teams…
This young team that the Kings organization has assembled is a good addition to the existing veterans. I believe it is a good mix and the chemistry can only get better. I love coming to the games again. It feels so good….
8-8 with a win on Sunday, 9-8 with a win on Wednesday!
Regarding the comment by the national analysts stating that the Nets would get their first win in California's capital, just goes to show you, you can't always believe what your read or hear. The Kings proved them wrong. Keep the wins coming, BEAT THE HORNETS!
Its becoming evident these guys are playing for EACH OTHER more than the fans, the coaches or the media. That is the best sign of team chemistry, and leads to effort and unselfish play. They like each other, want to impress each other, and most important, help each other. That is a recipe for success on both ends of the court. I know its early, but this is a potential playoff team if we can just avoid more serious injury. Watching them have fun is fun for us, and I am digging it. GO KINGS!
Couldn't have said it any better. Watching the team now is fun for my family too. These guys are the kind of Kings I want my kids to look up to. unselfish, hardworking, supportive, charismatic, positive. Keep up the great work in your play and in being great role models Kings!
Great article! The team seems to be doing well at home!
I'm really liking what Omri and Beno have been showing me. Surprised by both but very happy. The way the guys are rebounding, I hope Spencer and JT are healthy soon.
The kings are playing great especially at home and more fans are starting to show up at Arco.I think they will start silencing all the doubters. This may be a a little far fetched but if they keep playing like this they may be in the race for that 8th playoff spot. U never know! Kings forever
The Kings could easily sneak into the 7th or 8th playoff spot if they keep playing team ball. Geoff Petrie is a genius and everyone who thought we should have drafted the retard Rubio is getting a wake up call. Tyreke is a match-up nightmare for teams and were going to be tough to stop once Cisco and Martin come back. GO SAC-TOWN!!!!