Kings (14-53) at Charlotte (29-38)
Scoring: Kings 13th (99.83), Bobcats 29th (93.4)
Shooting: Kings 25th (44.7 percent), Bobcats 17th (45.4)
Scoring defense: Kings 29th (108.6), Bobcats 7th (94.6)
Shooting defense: Kings 30th (48.1 percent), Bobcats 11th (45.4)
Rebound differential: Kings 30th (minus-5.14), Bobcats 18th (minus-0.09)
The link: Bobcats coverage in the The Charlotter Observer; Kings coverage in The Bee (Game story; Notes; Voisin column; Game preview).
The almanac: On this date in 1991, the Philadelphia 76ers retired Wilt Chamberlain's No. 13 jersey. He joined fellow 76ers Billy Cunningham, Hal Greer, Bobby Jones and Julius Erving. Chamberlain would also have his jersey retired by the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors as he became the first NBA player to have his number retired by three teams.
On this date in 2001, Reggie Miller of the Indiana Pacers became the first NBA player to sink 2,000 three-pointers when he hit a trey during the third quarter of a 101-95 win over the Kings.
***
Perhaps Spencer Hawes summed it up best when describing the Kings' play in Tuesday's 119-97 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
"Selfish, selfish, selfish," Hawes told our own Sam Amick.
You'd think the Kings would share at least one thing - the desire to defeat at least one Eastern Conference team this season. The Kings are now 0-27 against the East and are down to three chances to avoid rewriting the NBA history books for lowly reasons. They face the Charlotte Bobcats today, the New York Knicks on Friday and Philadelphia 76ers at home on Sunday.
While the Kings hosted a party in the paint last night, I kept thinking of something interim coach Kenny Natt said after the team's new players arrived at practice.
"Hopefully, guys don't get selfish by trying to over impress management and coaches to earn more playing time and really kill the chemistry we have moving forward," Natt said on Feb. 22.
As Amick hit on in today's game story, Tuesday's loss reeked of personal agendas (read: expiring contracts). And that kind of play won't earn the Kings a win over any team, including their three remaining Eastern Conference opponents.
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