Kings coach Paul Westphal isn't looking for one player to be the hero in moments of adversity.

Westphal would like his players to rely on each other when things go wrong.

That wasn't the case in consecutive losses to Portland and Chicago after the Kings' season-opening win over the Lakers. Cohesion was rare when the opposition picked up its defensive intensity.

When that happened, the Kings played as if they didn't know their roles on the court. That showed up in the form of one-on-one play on offense and players failing to fulfill their defensive responsibilities.

In short, the Kings need the trust and cohesion that good teams usually display.

"We want to respond together," Westphal said, "not have anybody decide to take things into their own hands, because it's not a selfish thing. It's a learned way of competing that we need to emphasize."

That emphasis continued Friday with an hourlong film session in which Westphal said "no feelings were spared."

Westphal was in a bad mood Thursday night after the Kings' 108-98 loss to the Bulls.

So when it came time to review the game Friday, Westphal didn't bother with Kings highlights.

"We did some good things, but he didn't show the good things," Kings guard Tyreke Evans said. "He only wanted to show the bad things – not getting back on defense."

Those lapses have been prevalent in crucial moments.

In Tuesday's 101-79 loss at Portland, the Kings resorted to one-on-one play and didn't run their offense when the Trail Blazers increased their defensive intensity.

The Bulls took advantage by scoring easy baskets when the Kings failed to follow through on defense. Chicago scored 33 fast-break points.

Some of that can be blamed on the Kings' offense.

"We get in a habit of breaking our sets and guys get caught up in the wrong place," Evans said. "So we've got to do a better job of running the play like we're supposed to."

Sometimes at fault was a post player going after an offensive rebound instead of getting back on defense. Other times, a player on the wing failed to rotate back, taking the Kings out of position to defend in transition.

"I think when things get tough, we need to execute together, both offensively and defensively," Westphal said. "Part of it, it's not that there's not a will to do it. Some of it is to understand what their responsibilities are."

Evans said Thursday night that Chuck Hayes was the only player talking on defense.

So if there were breakdowns – and there were plenty – the Kings often didn't communicate them to each other.

Hayes said if everyone on the court knew his responsibility, it would go a long way toward fixing problems on both ends of the floor.

Hayes noted that the Bulls appeared to know what the Kings were doing on offense and defense, regardless of the situation.

For the Kings to begin doing the same, Hayes said he and his teammates must prepare properly for each game and know their assignments and the responsibilities of their teammates.

"All it takes is two or three times for them to buy in, to see it work, and it will become a habit," Hayes said of preparation. " … Change your habits before one game, change your mindset whatever you do before a game, just change it one time and just focus in on preparation before every game, and it will become a habit."

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