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		Kings hit new year on up note By Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin January 3, 2005
	Sacramento Kings forward Chris Webber, center, looks for help while battling for a loose ball with San Antonio Spurs defenders Rasho Nesterovic of Slovenia, left, and Manu Genobili of Argentina during the second half in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005. The Kings won 86-81. (AP Photo/Steve Yeater)
	SACRAMENTO - The Sacramento Kings have had a pretty good week, with the exception of the loss to Miami, one that was really expected because the Heat is really the best team in the Eastern Conference. Probably the big surprise, although the team has done a much better job and has started to jell, is that the Kings lost on their home court to the Warriors the day after Christmas, breaking an 11-game winning streak against the other Northern California team at Arco Arena. Following that, the Kings went to Utah and only beat the Jazz by seven, a team without $86-million man Andrei Kirilenko, on New Year's Eve. The Kings are a good club, but they're probably going to get about the fifth or sixth seed in the conference because some teams are playing extremely well, especially San Antonio, Seattle and Phoenix. The Suns currently lead the Kings in the Pacific Division in the loss column by five games. The Kings have lost Bobby Jackson for the next three months with torn ligaments in his wrist. That hurts because not only is Jackson a great individual, but he's a very talented player. The Kings are going to have to bring in somebody to pick up the slack for him. The Kings started a four-game Eastern swing Tuesday night in New York and it'll be interesting to see what they can do on back-to-back games. The trip continues Wednesday in Toronto followed by games at Atlanta Friday and New Orleans Saturday. Chris Webber is the key to this Kings team, their franchise player. He probably came back too soon last season and may have caused some problems by doing that. The ball didn't flow quite as well when he came back. Webber appears to be pretty strong this year, not at 100 percent, but he made an impact out on the floor. The big question will be how long Webber can hold up. Over the last couple of years, he's gone down with a injuries, but the NBA is a long, grueling season. We're not even at the halfway point yet. So far, he's done everything expected of him and been a very pleasant surprise. Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin cover the NBA and the Sacramento Kings. Follow their coverage all season long, sponsored by Habana Cuba. For the best in authentic Cuban dining, it's Habana Cuba on Race Street in Downtown San Jose.