Defensive Minded Kings Return to Utah
January 28, 2010 by Andrew Nicholson
Sacramento’s victory over Golden State on Tuesday gave the Kings 179-178 lead in the all-time series and boosted the team’s record against the Western Conference to 13-9 at ARCO Arena.
Now the Kings look to build on the performance Coach Paul Westphal lauded as the “best defensive game of the year” against a Utah Jazz team that has won eight of its last 10 games and four straight.
“They are one of the tough teams in the West, as usual,” Westphal said after Thursday’s practice. “I’m sure we won’t sneak up on them after we went in there and got a win last time we were there. That’s the way this league is, you win a game, you lose a game, whatever happens, you have a tough game coming up next.”
Like they did in their 99-96 win over the Warriors, who were without leading scorer Monta Ellis, the Kings look to exploit the Jazz’s short-manned roster. Point guard Deron Williams will miss the contest due to personal reasons and leading scorer Carlos Boozer is questionable due to a strained right calf.
“It’s going to be a very tough match,” rookie Omri Casspi said. “We beat them the last time we played there so they’re probably going to come with a little bit more energy against us. It’s just another road game for us. We have to get it together and play hard D. It’s going to be hard to beat them there and we have to do everything perfect to do it.”
Watch - Kings Practice: Omri Casspi.
While Utah could be without its two leading scorers, the Kings head into the contest with everyone but Francisco Garcia healthy. Jon Brockman, who had been sidelined with a bruised left hip, practiced and is expected to play despite soreness.
Among those who contributed to the Kings strong defensive performance against Golden State was Dontè Greene who, along with Ime Udoka, helped force the high-percentage shooting Corey Maggette to miss his first 14 shots and limit him to 3-of-22 shooting from the field. The Kings dynamic defender says no matter whom the opponent is, his preparation is the same.
“I just watch film,” the second-year forward said. “(I) try to learn my opponent’s tendencies, what he likes to do and what his weaknesses are and try to push him toward what his weaknesses are and make sure he doesn’t go to his strong points and contain him.”
Along with the improved weak side help and more active defensive effort by the Kings bigs, Greene says it was Sacramento’s collective focus and effort that led to the team’s defensive output.
“(We were) just playing hard and helping each other out,” he said. “(We weren’t) just worrying about who (we were individually) guarding. (We were) playing team defense and we’re going to try to carry that over to (Utah) and throughout the season.”
Watch - Kings Practice: Dontè Greene.
For those curious how the aforementioned Garcia is recovering, Westphal said the Kings forward had a strong showing in practice, but sat out the conclusion of the team’s scrimmage after taking a fall.
“I thought he looked real good today,” Westphal said. “I thought it was his best day, but then he hurt his wrist at the end. So we’ll see how he feels tomorrow…
“He fell and I think he’s going to be OK, but he’s, as you can imagine, extra careful about it.”
After undergoing surgery on Oct. 10, 2009, to repair a broken right radius in his forearm and ligament damage to his wrist, Garcia was said to be out a “minimum of four months,” according to the team’s press release. With the four-month expiration upcoming, it’s caused many to wonder about a timeframe for ‘Cisco’s possible return. Westphal, meanwhile, doesn’t put a date on it.
“I don’t know what his schedule is,” Westphal, when asked if Garcia is ‘on schedule’, said. “So it’s hard to say, ‘as scheduled,’ but he’s making good progress.”
Watch - Kings Practice: Coach Westphal.
Catch Garcia’s teammates take on the Utah Jazz on Friday at 6 p.m. on CSNCA and Sports 1140 KHTK.
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