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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/12681260p-13534252c.html
Ailene Voisin: Mobley is learning, despite bad share days
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Admittedly, he was an early skeptic. Admittedly, he still endures moments of confusion.
The Kings' offensive philosophy - share the ball, and good things will happen - in fact has caused such a shock to his system, even after 37 games, that Cuttino Mobley continues to experience moments of profound discomfort, even occasional disillusionment. But there has been progress. There is hope. Though Mobley's attempt to incorporate his street game into his new urban (and collective) setting has sputtered on occasion, the veteran shooting guard is bringing the textbooks with him into the schoolyard. He is passing more willingly, relying on teammates more frequently and, for the most part, returning to his roots only when all else fails. He has started to figure out that, around here, the isolation style he favors is nothing less than basketball blasphemy.
"Coach (Pete) Carril has been working with me, trying to get me away from so much one-on-one basketball," said Mobley, "but I'm from the city, from Philadelphia. That's what I know, and in Houston (with the Rockets), I went to the basket a lot.
"Everything is new. Sometimes you kind of revert back to what you been doing your whole life. But no matter how old you are, you can always learn. This is teaching me a lot of things that are going to help me out in the long run."
Among the recent discoveries are these: The ball absolutely belongs in Mike Bibby's hands in the closing, crucial segments. Peja Stojakovic is a lethal long-range shooter, and as he demonstrated in Tuesday night's energetic victory over the visiting Seattle SuperSonics, a much more effective player when pursuing rebounds and creating for others. Brian Skinner and Kenny Thomas are active, physical rebounders who provide a desperately needed dimension with their muscular interior defense. Darius Songaila, Maurice Evans, Eddie House and Corliss Williamson form the bulk of a bench that is deep, versatile and increasingly capable.
In other words, the Kings aren't a one-man team, a two-man team, even a three-man team, certainly not if they have any intention of playing the spoiler in the playoffs. Beginning and end of lesson.
"It's a transition for Cuttino," Kings president Geoff Petrie said. "He is getting to see the game in a very different way, with more sharing of the ball. But in the end, if he stays with it, he can still get plenty of shot opportunities."
Not that a matchup against the depleted Sonics rates as much of a barometer for the Kings, individually or collectively. Tuesday's victory was something of a gimme and absolutely necessary given the number of regular-season games remaining (six), the dwindling number of opportunities to re-establish a semblance of home-court dominance (two), and mostly, the fact that the visitors were without injured All-Star Rashard Lewis and key reserve Vladimir Radmanovic.
But more about the Sonics later. The teams could meet again in the playoffs, though given the Houston Rockets' current slump, a more likely (and unfortunate) scenario suggests another Kings-Dallas pairing.
And by then, who knows what Mobley's game will look like? Will he still be waving off Bibby down the stretch - definitely not a good move - and hoist up too many hurried jumpers? Or will he remain receptive, continue to evolve, and, at age 28, be ready for Carril's graduate text on team-oriented offenses?
The assistant coach and his new student spent time together after Monday's practice, Carril directing Mobley to the right wing, then to the right corner, schooling him on other methods of attacking the basket. Mobley's body language hinted at his mixed emotions: Initially, he appeared uncertain, outwardly skeptical, only to nod adamantly moments later, as if to say, "Now I get it."
"I'm an iso guy," Mobley said afterward. "You have to be able to create your own shot to survive in this league.
"But it's different here. I don't have as much spacing. I'm just trying to do what they're asking, just trying to fit in and figure it out."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/12681260p-13534252c.html
Ailene Voisin: Mobley is learning, despite bad share days
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Admittedly, he was an early skeptic. Admittedly, he still endures moments of confusion.
The Kings' offensive philosophy - share the ball, and good things will happen - in fact has caused such a shock to his system, even after 37 games, that Cuttino Mobley continues to experience moments of profound discomfort, even occasional disillusionment. But there has been progress. There is hope. Though Mobley's attempt to incorporate his street game into his new urban (and collective) setting has sputtered on occasion, the veteran shooting guard is bringing the textbooks with him into the schoolyard. He is passing more willingly, relying on teammates more frequently and, for the most part, returning to his roots only when all else fails. He has started to figure out that, around here, the isolation style he favors is nothing less than basketball blasphemy.
"Coach (Pete) Carril has been working with me, trying to get me away from so much one-on-one basketball," said Mobley, "but I'm from the city, from Philadelphia. That's what I know, and in Houston (with the Rockets), I went to the basket a lot.
"Everything is new. Sometimes you kind of revert back to what you been doing your whole life. But no matter how old you are, you can always learn. This is teaching me a lot of things that are going to help me out in the long run."
Among the recent discoveries are these: The ball absolutely belongs in Mike Bibby's hands in the closing, crucial segments. Peja Stojakovic is a lethal long-range shooter, and as he demonstrated in Tuesday night's energetic victory over the visiting Seattle SuperSonics, a much more effective player when pursuing rebounds and creating for others. Brian Skinner and Kenny Thomas are active, physical rebounders who provide a desperately needed dimension with their muscular interior defense. Darius Songaila, Maurice Evans, Eddie House and Corliss Williamson form the bulk of a bench that is deep, versatile and increasingly capable.
In other words, the Kings aren't a one-man team, a two-man team, even a three-man team, certainly not if they have any intention of playing the spoiler in the playoffs. Beginning and end of lesson.
"It's a transition for Cuttino," Kings president Geoff Petrie said. "He is getting to see the game in a very different way, with more sharing of the ball. But in the end, if he stays with it, he can still get plenty of shot opportunities."
Not that a matchup against the depleted Sonics rates as much of a barometer for the Kings, individually or collectively. Tuesday's victory was something of a gimme and absolutely necessary given the number of regular-season games remaining (six), the dwindling number of opportunities to re-establish a semblance of home-court dominance (two), and mostly, the fact that the visitors were without injured All-Star Rashard Lewis and key reserve Vladimir Radmanovic.
But more about the Sonics later. The teams could meet again in the playoffs, though given the Houston Rockets' current slump, a more likely (and unfortunate) scenario suggests another Kings-Dallas pairing.
And by then, who knows what Mobley's game will look like? Will he still be waving off Bibby down the stretch - definitely not a good move - and hoist up too many hurried jumpers? Or will he remain receptive, continue to evolve, and, at age 28, be ready for Carril's graduate text on team-oriented offenses?
The assistant coach and his new student spent time together after Monday's practice, Carril directing Mobley to the right wing, then to the right corner, schooling him on other methods of attacking the basket. Mobley's body language hinted at his mixed emotions: Initially, he appeared uncertain, outwardly skeptical, only to nod adamantly moments later, as if to say, "Now I get it."
"I'm an iso guy," Mobley said afterward. "You have to be able to create your own shot to survive in this league.
"But it's different here. I don't have as much spacing. I'm just trying to do what they're asking, just trying to fit in and figure it out."
About the writer:
- Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com. Back columns: www.sacbee.com/voisin.
