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		Kings hope for second-half surge By Daniel Dullum February 20, 2006
	Sacramento Kings' Ron Artest dribbles to the hoop against Memphis Grizzlies' Pau Gasol of Spain during the first quarter of NBA basketball action on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2006, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Alan Spearman)
	When your team is mired in last place, the All-Star break becomes a nice, four-day siesta from the NBA battles. Such is the case this year for the Sacramento Kings, who had no one in Houston to represent the team at the All-Star festivities. The All-Star break comes a little more than half way through the season, and just days away from the association’s Feb. 23 trading deadline. The Kings headed into the break with a 24-29 record, one-half game behind fourth-place Golden State, and 2½ games behind the third-place Los Angeles Lakers. This makes the Warriors’ Tuesday night visit to Arco Arena more than just casual viewing. Both the Kings and Warriors have designs on the eighth playoff spot in the NBA Western Conference. And the Warriors have some decision-making to make before noon Pacific Standard Time on Feb. 23. Will they trade Baron Davis? Will they keep Mike Dunleavy? Will Coach Montgomery get the ax? Golden State has a lot to ponder before the trading deadline. The Kings, on the other hand, are pretty much done with whatever dealing they had in mind – unless someone calls them with an inquiry too tantalizing to pass up. That’s hardly likely. Not that everyone on the Kings’ roster is an untouchable, it’s just that another deal involving Sacramento isn’t floating around the rumor mill, given the remaining talent level on the roster (you have to have commodities that other teams want). Further moves for Sacramento are more likely to occur after the playoffs. The young nucleus of the Kings is starting to play better basketball as the stretch run begins on Tuesday, with Ron Artest providing the energy and intensity that had been lacking before his arrival. Though the schedule works against them, it’s still not impossible for a healthy Kings team to go 18-11 to reach a 42-40 mark – a record that might get them into the postseason. It all starts Tuesday, when the Kings have what must be considered a key game with the Warriors. Daniel Dullum, an award-winning sportswriter, offers commentary on the Sacramento Kings and Major League Baseball weekly for Sports Radio Service, and appears as a panelist on “Sports Talk.”