By DavidKaye
Throughout this decade the Sacramento Kings have been regarded as one of the NBA's elite teams. Last year they took a step in the wrong direction as they posted a 44-38 record and bowed out in the first round of the playoffs. Through eight games this season the Kings have shown signs of returning to their old form, but are doing so in a different way.
This season the Kings who are lead by first year coach Eric Musselman are winning games through defense. Since the 2001-2002 season Sacramento had given up an average of 97.8 PPG, but this season they are only allowing 96.4 PPG and are also recording 10.5 SPG. They are lead by the NBA's best defensive player Ron Artest and guard Kevin Martin who leads the team in scoring. By shifting to a more defensive oriented team they are permitting themselves to open up many more scoring opportunities and this has been reflected through their stellar play so far.
The Kings are lead offensively by Kevin Martin who is a third year guard out of Western Carolina. He is quietly becoming one of the elite players in the league as he is averaging 24.1 PPG, 2 SPG and is shooting a robust 52.6% from the field. Martin is ahead of all stars Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan in the scoring department. The name Kevin Martin is unfamiliar to many people at the current time, but come the end of the season I for see him being a household name.
For many years Arco Arena has been tagged as one of the worst places for opposing teams to enter. The Kings are 162 up and 43 down at home since the 2001-2002 season. This year they are 4-0 at home and a major reason for this is their unbelievable fans and the dedication from owners Joe and Gavin Maloof. These two brothers have put their heart and sole into putting the best team on the floor every night for the city of Sacramento. As a result, the Kings won at least 50 games from 2000-2005 and have made the playoffs every year since the beginning of this decade.
Sacramento seems to be returning to the dominant team of old, but are now winning their games through defense. If they are to continue to have great success they will need to be lead by the defensive abilities of Ron Artest and the slick shooting of Kevin Martin
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