OAKLAND, Calif. -- Even without main man Chris Webber, the Sacramento Kings remain the most entertaining road show in the NBA. They run, they gun and they zip no-look passes. Only their ringleader, third-year point guard Jason Williams, has toned down his act.
Williams didn't do it voluntarily, getting the word from coach Rick Adelman. The latter appreciates his spontaneity and talent as much anybody, but is trying to win a championship. That won't happen unless Williams makes better decisions and improves his defense.
Jason Williams is still caught out of step on defense from time to time.(Allsport)
"We're going to be a good playoff team," Adelman said before Wednesday night's 122-101 win over Golden State. "Jason's got to be part of that because he does things offensively that none of our other guards can do. He makes passes that nobody else can make."
Williams also gets out of control, forces shots and gets lost on defense. So much so that Adelman has been replacing him with fourth-year guard Bobby Jackson in tight games.
During his first two seasons with the Kings, the patient Adelman gave Williams free rein to create and accepted the inevitable mistakes. Sacramento was forging a new identity and earning national attention for its playground style, mostly because of Williams. He quickly became a crowd favorite and his No. 55 purple jersey became a hot seller at every arena.
But times change. Not only have the 38-18 Kings become a perennial playoff team, but with a healthy Webber, they have the potential to contend for the NBA title.
Which is why Adelman has reeled Williams in. With Jackson and nine-year veteran Doug Christie more than capable of running the offense, Adelman has other options when Williams loses focus.
"We're trying to get the most out of him so he makes a positive influence on the game," said Adelman. "That's probably the biggest thing. I don't think people really understand. Sometimes he's almost gone the other way where he's too conservative and he's not trying to do things. It's a fine line and it's going to take him some time to reach a happy medium."
Taming a young colt is never easy, but Adelman has detected progress. Williams' shooting percentage is up and his assist-to-turnover ratio is improving this season. Instead of firing up quick 3-pointers, Williams is looking inside first for Webber, Vlade Divac, Predrag Stojakovic and Scot Pollard, then works for higher-percentage field goals.
"It's part of the learning process, but it makes it a lot easier since we're winning," said Williams, who scored eight points and added a game-high 10 assists against the Warriors. "As long as we're winning, I'm willing to do whatever I can to help the team."
When the opportunity presents itself, Williams doesn't hesitate to dish off no-look, behind-the-back passes. In the first quarter against Golden State, he hit Stojakovic in stride for an easy basket, wowing the fans.
"I just gotta pick and choose when I do things," he said. "I still have the freedom that I had. I gotta know the time and place instead of just making mistakes all the time."
Adelman knows this has been a tough adjustment and has been impressed by Williams' attitude.
"I think he's getting better," said Adelman. "It's a process. He's a young guy that's played a certain way his whole life and we're asking him to change that. I don't think that's going to happen overnight."
Even with the improvements, Williams remains a defensive liability.
"He's got to buckle down," Adelman said. "Sometimes he gives in to it, where he lays on screens and stops playing because he's used to playing a zone. It's an attitude."
Not that most spectators notice. They'd much rather see Williams bomb a 3, thread a bounce pass through traffic or underhand a no-look lob for a dunk.
"I don't know if it's fun," said Williams of his celebrity status. "I'm very appreciative of it because I never really thought that people would like to see us play like they do. To see all the people wearing my jersey ... I think that just comes with winning."
Even with reduced minutes -- he played 28 on Wednesday, the least of any starter -- and more pressure to perform, Williams still loves playing for Sacramento. The Kings are tight, on and off the court.
"We're so close off the floor, whatever goes on, we got each other's back," he said. "I don't think you can say that about any other team in the league.
"We all want to win. We all know what's up -- really it's C-Webb's team. No one's jealous in this locker room at all, so I think that's the big key."
Sacramento is now 6-3 since Webber went down with a left ankle sprain. Adelman is hopeful he'll return for Friday's game against the Clippers, but there are no guarantees the talented free agent forward will stick around next season.
"He's going to do what's best for him," said Williams. "Everybody in this locker room is for him, whatever he does. I don't think that's caused any distraction."
While Webber misses Detroit and is bored stiff in the Capitol City, Williams is perfectly content.
"I mean, I'm from Belle, West Virginia," he said laughing. "To me, it's not boring . Different strokes for different folks."
