Beno Udrih knew the solution, even if he was part of the problem.

"At the end of the game, we have to execute better," the Kings point guard said after Wednesday's 143-141 overtime loss at Golden State.

With eight games left and the Kings (16-58) on track to be the worst team in the 50-year franchise history, the inability to finish close games has significantly hurt coach Kenny Natt's chances of returning next season. The Kings have lost 10 consecutive games decided by seven points or fewer, turning the in-house spotlight to matters of coaching creativity and late-game control.

Combined with the defensive effort that has continued to worsen after the Dec. 15 decision to fire Reggie Theus and his defensive coach, assistant Chuck Person, Natt's chances of having his 2009-10 contract option picked up do not appear promising. And according to two sources close to the team, a familiar name from a past Kings coaching search is seriously being considered for the job.

John Whisenant, the Monarchs' general manager, was the front-runner for the Kings' head-coaching job in 2006 before Eric Musselman was hired. Whisenant now appears to be the unofficial front-runner again if Natt does not return.

As was the case three summers ago, Whisenant's reputation as a defensive specialist is appealing for a team lacking defense.

While Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie was resistant then to hiring a coach whose close ties with Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof have been well-chronicled and who has no NBA experience, the dynamic is different now in light of a somewhat-recent addition.

Kings consultant Pete Carril, a close friend of Petrie's and his former coach at Princeton, likely would be on Whisenant's staff if he were hired and would continue to have a strong influence on the team's offense.

The teaming, it would seem, could satisfy both ownership and the front office – if not the fans – after years of failed attempts to reach a common ground when it came to hiring coaches.

What's more, Whisenant – whom the Maloofs have sought as an informal adviser for years on Kings-related matters – is believed to have strongly supported the idea of Carril returning in early January.

The decision on Natt has not been made, but much of the damage certainly has been done. While comparisons between Theus' 2008-09 tenure and that of Natt's are complex because of various injuries and significant roster changes, his bosses are making comparisons nonetheless.

Under Theus, the Kings went 6-18, allowed 106.0 points per game and scored an average of 97.7 points while playing without center Brad Miller for five games, leading scorer Kevin Martin for 15 games and swingman Francisco García for 17.

Under Natt, the relatively healthy Kings have gone 10-40 while allowing a staggering 110.5 points per game and scoring at a clip of 102.5. Despite the addition of Carril to help with the offense, the drastic defensive decline, above all, has hurt Natt's cause.

There was no sign of defensive effort on either side on Wednesday night, as Martin exploded for 50 points and became just the second King in the team's Sacramento era to hit 50. The other was Chris Webber, who scored 51 points in an overtime loss to Indiana on Jan. 5, 2001.

Once again, the Kings' defense, which is ranked last in the league in opponent field-goal percentage (48.4), allowed the Warriors to shoot 53.5 percent overall and had 60 points in the paint.

Udrih not only had numerous questionable decisions down the stretch, he hit only 3 of 9 shots in the fourth quarter and overtime (6 of 18 overall). Also, he was unable to stop guard Monta Ellis, who scored a career-high 42 points.

Whether that failing defense will lead to Natt's end with the Kings, of course, remains to be seen.

Read the Kings blog at www.sacbee.com/kingsblog.