It's tough to know where to begin. The future of their power forward? The past of their point guard? The everyday of their 17,317-member chorus?

	Will Chris Webber be back in Sacramento when his contract expires? The Kings certainly hope so.

No. None of the above.

The real insight to be gained from the new Sacramento Kings, and they are different than before, comes Friday -- at the FleetCenter against the Boston Celtics, with a challenge greater than the game itself. The test of wills.

The Kings have a two-game losing streak for the first time, and questions to answer for the 50th time. It comes because of what happened earlier in the week, the loss at Atlanta on Tuesday as Jason Terry recorded a career-high with 38 points and the loss Wednesday at Charlotte as Baron Davis had a career-high with 26 points, triggering renewed skepticism whether the Kings deserve to be considered among the elite. That, and whether every Celtics guard has been icing down his shooting arm the last 48 hours in preparation for the chance at the backcourt that has been exploited on the first two stops of the Eastern swing.

The doubts come because they are the Kings, those teases. The networks love the high-scoring offense, but defense is just something to do while waiting to get the ball again, usually out of the bottom of the net. They make the Jazz sweat in the first round of the 1999 playoffs, taking Utah to the five-game limit, and then lose. They push the Lakers to the brink in the first round of the 2000 playoffs, going five games again, and lose again. They open the new season with the best start in team history...

And then lose to the Hawks?

It happens. And losing to the Hornets is no slap. But to have both happen within about 27 hours, that's when the problems come for a team that only now is building credibility. That timing is a big part of it. That makes the issue how they will respond against the Celtics, given the opportunity to prove that the start of the Eastern swing has been but a brief slip. The Nuggets were so concerned that they refused to practice, but it absolutely, positively was not a protest directed at Dan Issel.

It's a perception thing with the Kings, compounded because it feeds into the inferiority complex of Sacramento as a whole. But there is also the new reality.

They're legit.

	Christie

	Williams

The start has been very encouraging to the Kings, but also very tangible. That's the best part, that there hasn't been the slightest indication they are playing over their heads or lucking into wins. If anything, it's the opposite.

Jason Williams missed the first five games because he did not follow the after-care program as part of the league drug policy, Chris Webber was slowed by a sprained ankle, Predrag Stojakovic by a shoulder problem, they lost one game because of a poor job of boxing out on a rebound, and one to the Lakers in overtime when Webber missed the entire game and Williams most of it. One starter, Doug Christie, is new, another, Stojakovic, is new to the role, and a key reserve, Bobby Jackson, is also in his first season in town.

And still, the Kings were 14-4 before stumbling at Atlanta and Charlotte. They just had a 4-0 homestand that included wins over the Suns, Spurs (when San Antonio scored 27 points in the second half), Houston and Miami, the latter of which came with a rally from a 24-point deficit. There is no fluke. Webber has been dominating at power forward, Christie has been a huge addition at shooting guard, Stojakovic has had a breakout season after spending the first two years behind Corliss Williamson at small forward, and the improved defense has been obvious.

They're not just credible for now, either. What would make it permanent? Fifty wins? Winning a playoff series? Both accomplishments will come in the spring.

The town won't know what to do with itself. Of course, many of the faithful aren't quite sure even now what to make of that future, by which time Webber will almost be a free agent and the fate of the team will hang in the balance. If he goes, it's a body blow that will take a long time from which to recover. If he stays, things couldn't be much better, with Vlade Divac the only King so much as mentioning retirement, and it's still three years away for the center.

	Divac

The start has also shown Webber what could be, the other benefit to 14-4, prompting additional optimism. So calculated has the campaign already been to keep him that the Kings passed out placards to all fans urging him to stay and cranked Jackson Browne over the loudspeaker during a timeout during a recent game -- "Why don't you staaaaaaaaaay, just a little bit lonnnger." Everyone in Arco Arena joined in.

Webber's continued presence comes with extra importance since he is the only King close to Williams, a much-needed role on the team, given Williams' propensity for distancing himself from people. The improvements on other fronts, at least, have been noticeable, mostly with a much better assist-to-turnover ratio, better shot selection and ability to handle adversity, like when he sits down the stretch when coach Rick Adelman opts for Jackson's defense.

The reminder that this remains a work in progress came when Williams was fined for making obscene gestures while exiting the court after a Nov. 29 loss at San Antonio. Hey, we didn't say it was a perfect start.

They will just have to settle for promising, 14-6 and wins over the Spurs, Suns, Trail Blazers and Heat being a rather acceptable version of settling, considering the past. It is an encouraging start. But not a fleeting moment either, considering the future. And not just Friday.

Scott Howard-Cooper covers the NBA for the Sacramento Bee and is a new regular contributor to ESPN.com.