Don't judge Chris Webber's performance during Sacramento's second-round series against Dallas strictly by his numbers. His numbers tell you he's averaging 21.0 points and 11.0 boards. His numbers tell you that he's recorded a double-double in both games. His numbers might tell you that he's doing all he can to carry his team.

	Chris Webber got his points, but he also missed too many shots in-close in Game 2.

Those numbers don't tell you that CWebb has been off his game in the two games played so far in the Western Conference semifinal series. And if Webber doesn't find his game -- and tonight's Game 3 would be convenient time to do so -- the top-seeded Kings won't be advancing to the conference finals.

Don't blame Webber for the Game 2 loss, which cost the Kings home court advantage for the second straight series. Mike Bibby, after a brilliant first half during which he hit six of nine shots, missed nine of his last 11. Peja Stojakovic, after displaying a hot hand in Game 1, hit just five of 19 shots and finished with 14 points in Game 2. And Vlade Divac, nearly unstoppable in the post in Game 1 when he recorded a double-double, had only one rebound in 28 minutes in Game 2.

"Shots that we usually make, they just didn't go in," Bibby said. "We had our chances. We had some good, open looks."

And the Game 2 loss is not just the fault of the Sacramento players, even though it seems that way with the team shooting 27.6 percent (16-for-58) in the second half. Coach Rick Adelman didn't seem worthy of his second-place finish in Coach of the Year balloting by reducing his bench to just seven players, completely ignoring Scot Pollard whose energy has been key to the Kings the entire season.

	The problem with Webber, in his nine years, is that he's never really established that one move to bail him out of trouble.

A strength of the Kings all season has been the play of their reserves, with Pollard, Lawrence Funderburke and Gerald Wallace providing a boost with their hustle and enthusiasm. Playing seven players against a run-and-gun team like the Mavs is like taking on a relay team of Michael Johnson, Carl Lewis and Michael Green with a lone runner. The fatigue of the Sacramento players was evident during fourth quarter timeouts, when they were seen gasping for air.

Adelman has to find an effective way to spot his starters some minutes. But the big key for the Kings: They need Webber to stand tall. He has the ability to be a difference-maker in this series, a large presence with the ability to score inside and out. Yet Webber tends to drift toward the perimeter in key stretches of games, which plays right into the Mavs' hand.

Even when Webber went inside in the second half of Monday's game, the results were not pretty. Check out some of information from his second-half shot chart: missed eight footer (5:50 left in third), missed five footer (5:03), missed six footer (3:18), missed six footer (2:36), missed three footer (2:50 left in fourth quarter). Being a marquee player like Webber, those shots have to automatic. And when they don't fall, Webber can't spend his time arguing with the officials like he did in Game 2 (not against a quick team like Dallas).

Webber simply has to find a way to muscle to the basket, or at least get to the free throw line along the way.

When Shaq's in trouble, he powers his way to the basket. When Tim Duncan's in trouble, he positions himself for his short banker. When Kobe's in trouble, he finds a way to get to the basket. The problem with Webber, in his nine years, is that he's never really established that one move to bail him out of trouble.

Not having a go-to move is not good, especially when you're the go-to guy. You can bet the lack of success is eating at Webber. You can bet that the All-Star forward is anxious to explode. The eruption has to happen quickly: Sacramento's season depends on it.

Jerry Bembry is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine