LOS ANGELES – At any given point of an NBA game, a player will decide he needs to point out a mistake to an official.
At least one opponent used that as a strategy to beat the Kings.
After Friday's win at Sleep Train Arena, Indiana guard George Hill said in a postgame interview with Kings radio that the Kings' complaining to officials was part of the Pacers' game plan.
Hill said the Pacers wanted to "punish the criers" by running down the court for easy baskets when the Kings were preoccupied with the officials.
The Pacers had 18 fast-break points.
That the Kings complain is nothing new.
"Just about every team in the league tries to plead their case to the referees," Chuck Hayes said. "If then they label us criers, maybe it is true, I don't know."
The officials have responded to the Kings' complaints when they've gone too far.
DeMarcus Cousins is tied with New York's Carmelo Anthony for the league lead with five technical fouls. Cousins has been ejected once this season. Jason Thompson has two technical fouls.
Hayes acknowledged the Kings have watched film showing them giving up easy shots when they paid more attention to the officials than the game.
Hayes isn't sure that makes the Kings chronic complainers.
"That's happened a few times," Hayes said. "It's happened to other teams a few times. According to George Hill, we do it more than most."
Home woes – The Kings hoped to take advantage of having 10 home games in November to establish momentum before their schedule became heavy with road games.
That didn't happen. The Kings were 4-6 at home in November.
Sacramento has dropped its last two home games and six of the last eight after winning its first two games at home this season.
Rare appearance – As the Kings were being blown out early in the first half against the Los Angeles Clippers, coach Keith Smart turned to a seldom-used player.
Travis Outlaw played for the first time since Nov. 11 in a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Outlaw had played in just four games, including one start, before Saturday.
The start came in that game against the Lakers when the Kings did not have DeMarcus Cousins or Thomas Robinson because of suspensions.
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.
• Read more articles by Jason Jones
Order Reprint
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "Report Abuse" link below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.