That’s Not a Winning Attitude

With his team trailing two games to none in this best-of-seven series, the Kings’ Scot Pollard insists they aren’t intimidated by the Lakers. But the Kings aren’t feeling as good as they did before, either.

“I would say our confidence is shaken a little bit,” Pollard said, “I know mine is. I don’t know how everybody else feels, but I’m worried at this point.”

The Kings are consoling themselves with the fact that, even with Shaquille O’Neal averaging 43.5 points in the first two games, the Lakers won by margins of only six and three points.

“I think we came out in the second half with a lack of intensity,” Pollard said. “And they’re too good to come out with no intensity and expect to win. That was our downfall. If you can’t play hard in the playoffs, when can you?

“It [Friday’s Game 3] is a little bit of a gut check for us. I hate that cliche and cliches in general, but it’s true.”

Of course, teammate Chris Webber isn’t so sure the Kings aren’t intimidated.

“I hope not,” Webber said. “We can’t just sit back and rely on our fans being the best in the NBA. It isn’t enough.”

Peja Stojakovic, who averaged 23.3 points and shot 42% against the Phoenix Suns’ Shawn Marion in the first round, is averaging 20 and shooting 36% against the Lakers’ Rick Fox in this one.

Said Coach Rick Adelman: “I’m hoping the fact that he hit those four-five shots in a row in the fourth quarter gets him going, but I do think we have to set better screens for him. He has to have some help.”

Said Stojakovic: “All I can do is keep doing my job, keep playing. I’ll stay aggressive and keep shooting. We’ve got two days off and we’re going home, so hopefully we can improve our game. It’s going to be different.”

Webber, on King point guard Jason Williams: “I got to play with Rod Strickland when he led the league in assists. I played with Tim Hardaway, Avery Johnson. I’ve been blessed to play with some great point guards. I played with Mark Price for a year. Scott Skiles.

“Jason is more talented than all of them put together. . . . He’s the most talented ballhandler I’ve ever seen.”

Webber is almost at a loss for words about O’Neal’s play in the first two games.

“I don’t know what to say about Shaq,” he said. “I know we have to work harder. The way I feel is, if you go down, go down swinging.”

Stojakovic has an idea.

“Call 911,” he said.

For all the talk of the Kings’ success at home, they are 4-4 in home playoff games dating to 1995-96.