Where do the Kings go from here? From a strategic perspective, there are a few things Sacramento can do. One of the most discussed has been double-teaming Jerome James, presumably with a defender helping off of Luke Ridnour, who is 2-for-17 from the field in this series. The Kings may also go smaller tonight to try to take advantage of their quickness and get out in transition, something that was very successful in the fourth quarter on Tuesday. Really though, the Kings need to compete. Sacramento Coach Rick Adelman was still angry after Game 2 about his starters' lack of effort and intensity. It would be stunning if the Kings didn't come out with a better effort tonight, particularly with a noisy ARCO Arena crowd behind them.

For the Sonics, adjustments are going to be subtle at best. They are looking to maintain the level of play they've reached this series and even get better, but the key tonight will not be strategic. Instead, it's about maintaining composure in the face of 17,000 fans in Sacramento. The Kings can safely be counted on to come out with an early run, and the Sonics must weather that storm and stay in the game. The goal on the road is to keep it close and try to steal one in the closing moments. The Sonics have executed better than Sacramento in this series and will be confident if this game comes down to the wire.

G U A R D S
	As expected, Sacramento guard Mike Bibby didn't repeat his 1-for-16 shooting performance in Game 2, but he didn't come out with the kind of fiery performance many expected him to bounce back with either. Bibby led the Kings starters with 16 points, shot 7-for-14 and handed out eight assists, but he still didn't have a Mike Bibby game. Ridnour deserves a lot of credit for that; the Sonics youngster is playing outstanding defense. But at some point, he's going to have to force the Kings to respect him defensively by knocking down some shots.
	Cuttino Mobley spent much of his time in Seattle getting into it with Sonics fans and the referees. That was acceptable in Game 1, when he provided much of the Kings offense, but Mobley was a non-factor in Game 2, scoring nine points on 4-for-13 shooting. With Sacramento's offense stalling in the third quarters of the last two games, Mobley has tried to take over with varying results. He ought to return to a complementary ole tonight. Ray Allen continues to power the Sonics attack, averaging 27 points over the first two games.
F O R W A R D S
	Right on schedule, the Sacramento Bee is questioning Peja Stojakovic's playoff performance after Stojakovic had nine points on 3-for-10 shooting Game 2. Stojakovic contributed on the glass, grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds, but needs to do more for the Kings offense to be successful. Rashard Lewis has done a fine job of defending Stojakovic and working against double-teams at the other end. Lewis did force things a bit in Game 2, missing nine of his 12 shot attempts. Many of those were difficult stepback jumpers.
	Kings forward Kenny Thomas did not play a role in either of the two games in Seattle, despite pulling down nine rebounds on Tuesday. Thomas scored six points on 3-for-7 shooting and has yet to make the Sonics pay with his midrange jumper. If the Kings get their offense going tonight at ARCO, expect Thomas to be a factor. Through two games, Reggie Evans of the Sonics has pulled down 23 rebounds at a rate of one every other minute. The Sonics need his continued aggressiveness on the glass tonight.
C E N T E R
	Still coming back from his broken leg, Brad Miller returned to the starting lineup in Game 2 but played only 17 minutes. Miller scored six points and hit three of his four shots, but was ineffective defending James and on the glass. He could double his minutes tonight and can be expected to bounce back. Unless you've been in a cave, you know how James has dominated this series so far, averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds through the first two games.
B E N C H
	All seven Sacramento reserves saw action in Game 2, and five of them - guards Bobby Jackson (right) and Eddie House, forwards Maurice Evans and Darius Songaila and center Brian Skinner played the entire fourth quarter and led the Kings comeback. Jackson scored 17 points, though he needed 18 shots, and House scored nine in 15 minutes. It's anybody's guess what Adelman's rotation might look like tonight. The Sonics bench was outstanding in Game 2, with Nick Collison (left), Antonio Daniels, Danny Fortson and Vladimir Radmanovic all scoring at least eight points and providing good minutes.

TEAM LEADERS ALLEN STOJAKOVIC Allen 27.0 PPG Stojakovic 16.5 James 12.0 RPG Thomas 8.5 Ridnour 5.0 APG Bibby 6.0 Allen/Daniels 2.0 SPG 3 with 1.0 James 3.0 BPG Skinner 2.0 Allen 41.0 MPG Stojakovic 38.0