Team turns tables in the paint
--Since allowing 92 points in the paint to the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 25 -- the most in the NBA in 10 seasons -- the Kings have shored up their interior defense without adding players.
In the last seven games, the Kings have actually outscored their foes in the paint by an average of 47.7 points to 38.0.
Improved team defense -- calling for help, moving feet, effort -- have been paramount in the change, and the Kings have won four of five of late.
"A lot of teams try to put us in pick-and-roll just to try to break us apart, get an easy bucket," said Kings guard Tyreke Evans. "We're not the best at (defending the) pick-and-roll, but we do a good job of stopping them when we need to."
--Ex-Kings star Chris Webber worked the Kings-Thunder game Thursday at Power Balance Pavilion as a court-side analyst, and though a passionate fan still, Webber blundered repeatedly in talking about how an arena deal was voted down. Not true. The arena plan was not voted down, yet somehow Webber and sideline reporter Cheryl Miller kept talking about a failed vote.
Webber and TNT declined to clarify or apologize, and Webber even offered a ranting commentary on the Kings' flagship station KHTK 1140 about how he has tried to save the Kings, then abruptly hung up.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"If all our starters aren't on, we're off." -- Kings coach Keith Smart.
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