Dilemma and defeat

ORLANDO, Fla. – The balancing act won't be easy, but it is – as the Kings see it – necessary.

With less than two months remaining in the season, there is a focus on developing the youth while not forgetting about the experienced. The talk of possible .500 records and improbable playoff runs is awkwardly matched with chatter over where each draft pick stands in the developmental process.

It is the latest challenge in the next stage otherwise known as rebuilding. And in Sunday's 112-93 loss to Orlando, ending the Kings' three-game winning streak, coach Reggie Theus didn't meet the challenge.

During a 19-8 Magic run from the late third quarter to midway through the fourth, Kings shooting guard Kevin Martin sat with a look of frustration while the likes of rookie center Spencer Hawes and second-year guard Quincy Douby struggled to keep up with a Magic team that's among the Eastern Conference's best.

Martin had hit 8 of 13 shots to that point and was leading the team in points (21), rebounds (10) and assists (five). Then for a six-minute, 24-second stretch in which a seven-point deficit grew to 19, Martin watched from the bench while the two starters who had left with him (Beno Udrih and Brad Miller) returned before him.

"Especially with the way the game was going, I wanted to get back in the game," said Martin, whose three-pointer had cut Orlando's lead to five one minute before he was taken out. "But I guess it is what it is, and I'll move on from that. It's all about rhythm. I just know how I've got to play to help this team."

Theus may not have recognized the length of Martin's disappearance during the game, but he did so before being prompted when addressing reporters afterward.

"He sat a little long, (and) at the same time I think 13 shots is not enough for him; we'll have to do better," said Theus, who played nine players at least 14 minutes. "When I was looking at it, I was thinking we had a little rhythm going. And when (the game) went, it went quick. It wasn't a matter of a long period of time (that Martin was out)."

Kings small forward Ron Artest captured the quandary with his postgame comments, noting the importance of the youth movement while expressing reservations about what it will take to make it a priority.

"Tonight was a good night to get the young fellas some touches," said Artest, who had 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting. "That was good because we're going to need them down the road. But if we didn't do that, we definitely could've beat this team … . It's tough. I'm not going to sit here and lie to you and tell you it's not."

But not as tough as the Magic. With the "Superman" theme piping through the Amway Arena speakers in honor of Dwight Howard and his flying man act in last week's All-Star dunk contest, the phenom center was his normal superhuman self. He was the only Orlando option early, scoring 13 of the Magic's 25 first-quarter points while Artest was shutting down Hedo Turkoglu in his latest defensive gem. But Artest received his third foul midway through the second quarter with the Kings ahead 36-30, forcing him to the bench, and Orlando responded with a 9-0 run.

"That killed me," Artest said. "We definitely were going to win this game. That's how it was feeling … . They were just dumb fouls, dumb, stupid fouls on my part."

Howard finished with 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting, putting on his usual dunk display off alley-oops and imposing play in the paint while offering Hawes quite the rookie initiation during his 18 minutes. Hawes hit just 4 of 11 shots, firing away during garbage time with eight fourth-quarter shots.

Yet the Kings' second-half defensive breakdown was their real demise. They held Orlando to 37.5 percent shooting and were tied 46-46 at halftime but allowed the Magic to shoot 58.1 percent in the second half. Orlando made 11 of 22 three-pointers, with Rashard Lewis and Brian Cook sinking four apiece.

"Defensively was really where the big problem was tonight," Miller said. "We were giving them a lot of layups. We talked about not giving them open looks at the three … . I think it just had to do with team defense tonight, and everyone had a really bad night."

About the writer:

• Read Sam Amick's Kings blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.