Blazers' Fire

The Kings have had their problems this season--many of them--but they're finally starting to get it together, at least at home. The Blazers, woeful as they are at home, are utterly helpless on the road. Together, those facts make for a bad night in Sacramento.

Most of the Blazers gave up by halftime. Some of them didn't bother to show up at all. They've been beaten down by their own incompetence, discouraged beyond hope of glory. Even Coach McMillan seems to have more or less given up on the season and the team.

Two who didn't give up were newbie Brian Skinner and Sebastian Telfair. Nice work from both. Skinner's just so thrilled to be playing, which he didn't get to do much in Sacramento, that he's putting out full energy every minute he's on the floor. Telfair, back from his two-game punishment for the gun on the plane, put up sixteen points and dished three assists during garbage time. The kid is really trying hard, and Coach McMillan's rewarding him with minutes and off-court props.

Final score: 115-91, Sacramento. Another slaughter.

"I don't want to make much of this game," Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "We cannot come in here and have a few guys play hard and other guys not giving the effort."  Clue for ya, Coach: Nobody's giving a real effort; Telfair and Skinner were better than anybody else, but that ain't saying much.

That's six losses in a row now, and ten of the last eleven.

Sidelines: Next game is Wednesday at home against the LA Lakers. The season's been split so far, so we know the Lakers are beatable. Not laying wagers, by any means, but this is doable.

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