Attention to details. That's the big thing I took from Paul Westphal's media time after today's practice when it comes to some of the defensive issues because he mentioned the scouting report more than once.
Here's one take on the Kings' slow starts:
"You have to play with 48 minutes of intensity. I think that maybe we're a little afraid of fouling, maybe we're easing into the flow of the game, whatever it is. Maybe it just takes us a while to figure out or believe the scouting report that says certain guys like to do certain things or have tendencies."
Then here's Westphal on if there is anything in particular teams were doing to exploit the defense:
"I don't think it's any one thing other than they're doing what the scouting report says they're going to do."
It's not as if the Kings don't know what to do defensively. It's just they haven't done it for an entire game yet this season. Their first-half defense has been problematic in all four games.
There's no reason not to know Andrea Bargnani or Linas Kleiza are shooters. Nor will there be an excuse tomorrow if someone doesn't realize Lamar Odom likes to go to his left.
So win or lose tomorrow, it will interesting to see if the Kings can be more consistent defensively for the entire game.
One Kings that figures to be prepared is Samuel Dalembert. He left practice today with DVDs of the Lakers, one labeled "Gasol."
And before you get all worked up about who didn't do the same thing, I just happened to speak with Dalembert while he was holding his DVDs. Not implying the rest of the team isn't putting in extra work.
But if Westphal mentions players not "believing" the scouting report again, it wouldn't be unfair to assume some Kings aren't taking their study time seriously.
*By the way, there are about 2,000 tickets left for tomorrow's game against the Lakers and www.kings.com/tickets is the site.
--Jason Jones
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