After the Kings were routed by the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Tyreke Evans vowed to be aggressive.
No more going out looking to set up teammates before finding his game.
Evans said he has realized that being aggressive is "the only way we'll have a chance (to win)."
Evans has gone through periods in which he looks to play as a pass-first point guard. Those flirtations with finding his inner Steve Nash or Jason Kidd have often been accompanied by indecision by Evans on the floor.
Kings coach Paul Westphal wants Evans to be himself.
"He's not that kind of player, and no one's asked him to be,"
Westphal said. "It's a hard lesson, and if he's learned it, it's worth it."
Evans has heard plenty of criticism about his inability to run a team. Westphal believes that's a reason Evans sometimes goes out of his way to prove he's unselfish.
Westphal said when Evans looks to get assists, he gets away from attacking the basket, which is what he does best.
But Westphal understands what hearing Evans' game questioned might do to his psyche.
"How could it not affect him?"
Westphal said. "He's a person who cares about doing things right, and he's a young person who's probably never had to read too much negative about his performance. And when those things start to go into your brain, you start saying, 'Are they right? Do I need to change?' "
Evans had 25 points and eight assists in Saturday's 105-103 loss to Dallas at Arco Arena.
More time for Jeter – Westphal said he plans to give rookie guard Pooh Jeter more playing time as part of the coach's quest to find more offense.
Jeter was signed in the offseason to add a change-of-pace guard to the backcourt. But Jeter, a veteran of minor league and overseas basketball, had appeared in only five games entering play Saturday.
After Jeter averaged 7.8 minutes, usually in one-sided losses, Westphal said it was time to see if the 5-foot-11 guard can cause problems for opponents.
"We're not going to figure he's not ready,"
Westphal said. "We're going to give him a chance."
Jeter played the entire fourth quarter of Friday's loss. He scored 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting. On Saturday, he was scoreless in nearly 10 minutes.
