It's been 11 years since the Kings looked this bad. And judging by their latest performance, they show no signs of improving.
Not since the 1997-98 season has a Kings team started a season 0-4, back when Mitch Richmond, Corliss Williamson and Billy Owens could do nothing to stop the slow start and the eventual end was a 27-55 finish. Yet even their losses weren't as one-sided as the current crop. With their 125-91 loss at Philadelphia on Monday night, the Kings' four defeats have come by an average margin of 20 points. "The only thing that I can say is that you can't win in the NBA when you give up 120 points a game," coach Reggie Theus said after the latest loss. "Right now, I asked my guys to search themselves because that's not acceptable. The effort is not acceptable. It starts with the leaders of the team first, and it trickles down."
The Kings have yet to lead after the first quarter and have won just two of a combined 16 quarters. In reality, they have won only one (the third quarter against Minnesota in the season opener) considering the fourth quarter against Miami on Oct. 31 began with the Heat ahead by 31 points. And while Theus' math was a bit off, they are allowing 111.8 points per game and 52.2 percent shooting.
76ERS 125, KINGS 91: Even the Jason Thompson fans went quiet on Monday night at Wachovia Center, where more than 250 home state supporters of the Kings' rookie forward were in attendance to see his team get pulverized by the Sixers.
Thompson -- who attended nearby Rider University and grew up in Mt. Laurel, N.J. -- was in the spotlight, but it mattered little as the Sixers had eight players who scored in double figures -- and they scored 40 of their 54 points in the paint by halftime. Their 20-point lead at the break grew to 40 late in the fourth quarter (119-79) as they improved to 2-2.
