Inconsistency is playing a part

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Looking at the reporters gathered around him after the Celtics' 119-105 loss to the Kings Sunday night in Sacramento, Gary Payton could not help but laugh.

"What do you want me to tell you?" he asked.

Payton knew there was nothing he could add by way of explanation. Those who follow the team know that squandering large leads and playing inconsistently quarter-to-quarter have become part of a regrettable pattern, the signature of a relatively young team trying to find its way.

In this season of one step forward/two steps back, the Celtics once again lost a game in which they held a sizable lead. They were all potential and passing and pushing the pace in the first half. By sharing the ball, the Celtics built a 38-18 lead early in the second quarter. They finished the first half ahead, 63-55, after shooting 52 percent from the floor, outscoring the Kings, 26-8, in fast-break points, outrebounding the Kings, 27-18, and committing just seven turnovers.

"We are who we are and we're going to be that way," said coach Doc Rivers. "We're going to run. Our running game was the difference in the first half. It proved that you can run with [the Kings], but you can't take the foot off the pedal.

"We came out in the third quarter and just didn't do anything. We walked the ball up the floor. We didn't move the ball offensively, but defensively [we let down] because our offense wasn't working."

Many of the comments Rivers made would have applied to a number of losses during the first month-plus of the season. In fact, Rivers has likened his experiences to "Groundhog Day," the film in which the same day keeps repeating itself. But the more Groundhog Days Bill Murray's character experiences, the fewer mistakes he makes. The same cannot be said for the Celtics, who keep reverting to unproductive, individualistic play.

That was the familiar story in the second half against Sacramento, when Boston inexplicably abandoned what worked so well in the first half. As a result, Sacramento staged a 36-10 run over most of the third quarter that turned its 8-point halftime deficit into a 93-80 lead entering the fourth.

The Kings stretched their advantage to a game-high 26 points (112-86) late in the fourth. They shot 50 percent in the second half, outrebounded the Celtics, 27-20, and racked up 18 assists. With the Celtics unable to make stops during the third and fourth quarters, they naturally found their running game stifled. In the end, Sacramento's point total, 35 assists, and 46 field goals represented season highs.

"You can't just let them run over you," said former Celtic Darius Songaila (season-high 14 points). "At some point, the guys on the court, as well as the guys on the bench, just have to say, `That's enough,' and start playing. Once we picked it up and started getting back on defense and getting the rebounds, things started falling back in order."

The loss snapped the Celtics' three-game winning streak and left them looking to regroup last night against the Warriors at The Arena in Oakland. After Golden State, this trip only becomes more difficult, with games against the Blazers, Sonics, and Clippers.

Rivers and his players called the Kings game a learning experience. There have been a lot of those this season. The Celtics don't mind learning about the game and themselves as they go. They just wish it meant more wins and fewer second-half collapses.

"It's taking time," said Payton. "Everybody's got to learn from their mistakes and hopefully we can correct them."