As he sat inside the visitors' locker room at the Izod Center and spoke of the Kings' 98-90 loss to New Jersey in which Kevin Martin scored 36 points and Salmons had a season-low three, there was no mistaking his platform.

Asked about his declining production since Martin returned four games before, a frustrated Salmons said it's up to the coaching staff to keep him involved.

"They call the plays, so it's up to them," said Salmons, who hit just 1 of 8 shots Monday and has made 18 of 58 since Martin returned from a left ankle injury that kept him out of 22 games.

"There shouldn't be no reason why (he and Martin) shouldn't be able to play together ... . That's on them, because it's proven (that he can produce)."

As the Kings set a Sacramento-era record for slowest start to a season (8-27), the inability of those around Martin to chip in is suddenly the latest reason they can't find a way to win. Yet in their 11th consecutive road loss, Salmons was in a category all his own when it came to nonexistent offense.

The solution, as Salmons sees it, has nothing to do with him. Averaging nearly 20 points this season, he said his number simply isn't being called recently.

"It's drastic," Salmons said when asked about the difference in the number of plays being called for him. "It's just ridiculous."

Martin, who made 11 of 21 shots but was only 3 of 12 in the second half, said he doesn't see it as a systematic problem.

"It's not tough (to keep everybody involved in the offense)," Martin said. "It's just like with any team. Somebody has the hot hand, and it shouldn't be hard for any guy to go off because it's not like the guy is being selfish or anything.

"We've just got to continue to play together because these have been some tough losses. Hopefully, we get through it."

There was ample reason for the dour mood, as the Kings failed where even some of the franchise's worst teams had succeeded. The 1989-90 and 1990-91 Kings started 8-26, but both notched their ninth win in the 35th attempt.

And for most of the night, it looked as if the Kings would do the same. Martin had perhaps the finest half in his five seasons to put the Kings up 55-43 at halftime. He not only scored 25 points on 8-of-9 shooting but left the Nets in awe.

Nets guard Vince Carter said he tipped two of Martin's four three-pointers and they still went in. Coach Lawrence Frank quipped, "If Martin would've kept the pace going, Wilt (Chamberlain) would've rose up."

Instead, the Nets awoke. They used a 19-8 third-quarter run to pull within two, with Carter (29 points) and Yi Jianlian (22 points) combining for 19 third-quarter points. Martin and the Kings cooled off, hitting just 8 of 21 shots in a 19-point period.

It was even worse late. The Kings scored just six points in a nearly nine-minute stretch, then blew their final chance after Martin's 18-footer cut the lead to 92-86 with 2:29 left.

Josh Boone missed two free throws, but Yi went around Brad Miller for the rebound and was fouled by Miller. The veteran center had his trademark meltdown while arguing a noncall, earning a technical foul that made for an ugly ending.

"Mental mistakes once again," interim coach Kenny Natt said. "We need to get the rebound. I guess Brad didn't block out, and then he gets a 'T' to compound it. That wasn't New Jersey. That was the Kings. We are our own worst enemy."

TONIGHT'S GAME / Kings (8-27) at Chicago (14-20) Tipoff: 5:30 p.m., United Center. TV: CSN. Radio: KHTK (1140 AM).

Outlook: The Kings have won seven of their last nine games in Chicago, so there is a precedent for success. But they will be facing a Bulls team that has lost six of its last seven games and has reached desperation status in light of its latest defeat -- a 102-92 home setback Saturday to Minnesota, which won consecutive games for the first time this season. Bulls guard Ben Gordon shot just 7 of 21 in the loss, and Chicago was 39.3 percent from the field overall.

Bulls update: They had figured it out until three weeks ago, starting the season 13-14 in what was an improvement for a team that won just 33 games last season. While small forward Luol Deng has missed the last five games because of an ankle problem, he had much to do with the Bulls' struggles. After he signed a six-year, $71 million deal last summer, his production has fallen in points (17 points per game last season to 13.3 this season), rebounds (6.3 to 5.3) and shooting percentage (47.9 to 43.5), while his minutes have been nearly identical (33.8 to 33.4).

Bulls injuries: PF Drew Gooden (sprained left ankle, doubtful); SF Luol Deng (sprained left ankle, out); F Michael Ruffin (sprained left ankle, out); G Kirk Hinrich (torn right thumb ligament, out).

Kings injuries: C Spencer Hawes (abdominal strain, questionable).

Probable starters Kings No. / Player / Pos. 19 / Beno Udrih / PG 32 / Francisco Garcia / SG 15 / John Salmons / SF 33 / Mikki Moore / PF 52 / Brad Miller / C

Bulls No. / Player / Pos. 1 / Derrick Rose / PG 7 / Ben Gordon / SG 2 / Thabo Sefolosha / F 24 / Tyrus Thomas / PF 34 / Aaron Gray / C

Read the Kings blog at www.sacbee.com/kingsblog.