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http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/politics/10264985.htm
Posted on Wed, Nov. 24, 2004
Ostertag enjoying more relaxed atmosphere with Kings
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - If Greg Ostertag appears more relaxed this season, the change in demeanor comes for good reason - he no longer plays for Jerry Sloan.
A starter or key reserve during his long tenure with the Utah Jazz, Ostertag certainly works under less stressful conditions now. Although a respected coach with a long track record of winning, Sloan is vocal, demanding and frequently his prime target for verbal abuse over the years was Ostertag.
It was a love-hate relationship the two developed in Utah. Away from the court, they were good friends. Yet there were plenty of acrimonious times when it came to basketball.
It was not unusual for Sloan to be screaming at Ostertag from the bench following a perceived or real mistake.
"If things were going wrong, he would find Greg," Ostertag says, smiling at the many recollections recently. "Whether he was right or wrong, I took a lot of the blame. But Jerry is a good guy and he helped me out a lot as a player, there's no doubt about that."
One of five Kings newcomers along with Maurice Evans, Matt Barnes and rookies Kevin Martin and Erik Daniels, Ostertag quickly has grown to understand Kings coach Rick Adelman runs a looser operation.
Not that the work doesn't get done. But Adelman's philosophy allows for more freedom.
And let's face it - more fun, which comes as good news for a man who has a Fred Flintstone tattoo on his calf.
"It's so much more laid back here, it's a big change from Utah," Ostertag said. "In Utah, Jerry was a lot more vocal and would get after players. Rick lets the players get going themselves, then if he needs to step in he does."
Also new this year is the reception Ostertag is receiving at Arco Arena. As a visiting player whose team met the Kings three times in the last six years in the playoffs, Ostertag received his share of distain from the Arco crowd.
"I got booed here quite a bit," said Ostertag, who entered the season with 1,187 career blocks, second in Utah history. "But I have always loved playing at Arco. The fans here really get behind their team. As a visitor, you liked coming in here and trying to get them real quiet."
---
Always a game the Kings looked forward to in the past, meeting the Los Angeles Lakers might not be as anticipated this season. Part of that reason - Vlade Divac.
The popular ex-King will be in uniform Friday when Sacramento visits the Staples Center.
"It will be very different seeing Vlade in another uniform," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "Vlade is going to help them though. He's going to make them a better team."
Suffering from a herniated disk in his lower back, Divac missed the first 11 games this season. He played five scoreless minutes Tuesday in a victory against the Bucks.
Chris Webber feels the rivalry the two teams had over the last five seasons is greatly diminished with the departing of coach Phil Jackson and Shaquille O'Neal.
"It's not the same anymore, Vlade, Peja and I were the ones," Webber said. "If Shaq's not there, it's over. We're just two teams trying to win a championship."
---
Two years removed from playing with the Indiana, Brad Miller still has ex-teammates on the Pacers, who were involved in last week's brawl with fans in Detroit.
In fact, Miller played 1 seasons with the Bulls and was traded along with Ron Artest and Kevin Ollie to the Pacers in February 2002.
After another year and a half with Indiana, he came to Sacramento last season. Miller knows a little something about fights, provoking Shaquille O'Neil into taking a swing at him while with Indiana.
Miller wasn't shocked when a problem developed between the Pacers and Pistons, perhaps a leftover from an emotional playoff series won by eventual NBA champion Detroit.
"I know there's been some bad blood between Detroit and Indiana from when I was there," Miller said. "But what happened is crazy and uncalled for."
---
Notes: Doug Christie had his best game of the season against Memphis, getting 16 points, nine assists and five rebounds ... Through 10 games, Webber was averaging a team-leading 19 shots a game and Stojakovic was taking 16 ... Bobby Jackson escaped a shooting slump for a night, making 7 of 14 shots, including three 3-pointers, and scoring 18 points in Tuesday's win over Houston.
Posted on Wed, Nov. 24, 2004
Ostertag enjoying more relaxed atmosphere with Kings
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - If Greg Ostertag appears more relaxed this season, the change in demeanor comes for good reason - he no longer plays for Jerry Sloan.
A starter or key reserve during his long tenure with the Utah Jazz, Ostertag certainly works under less stressful conditions now. Although a respected coach with a long track record of winning, Sloan is vocal, demanding and frequently his prime target for verbal abuse over the years was Ostertag.
It was a love-hate relationship the two developed in Utah. Away from the court, they were good friends. Yet there were plenty of acrimonious times when it came to basketball.
It was not unusual for Sloan to be screaming at Ostertag from the bench following a perceived or real mistake.
"If things were going wrong, he would find Greg," Ostertag says, smiling at the many recollections recently. "Whether he was right or wrong, I took a lot of the blame. But Jerry is a good guy and he helped me out a lot as a player, there's no doubt about that."
One of five Kings newcomers along with Maurice Evans, Matt Barnes and rookies Kevin Martin and Erik Daniels, Ostertag quickly has grown to understand Kings coach Rick Adelman runs a looser operation.
Not that the work doesn't get done. But Adelman's philosophy allows for more freedom.
And let's face it - more fun, which comes as good news for a man who has a Fred Flintstone tattoo on his calf.
"It's so much more laid back here, it's a big change from Utah," Ostertag said. "In Utah, Jerry was a lot more vocal and would get after players. Rick lets the players get going themselves, then if he needs to step in he does."
Also new this year is the reception Ostertag is receiving at Arco Arena. As a visiting player whose team met the Kings three times in the last six years in the playoffs, Ostertag received his share of distain from the Arco crowd.
"I got booed here quite a bit," said Ostertag, who entered the season with 1,187 career blocks, second in Utah history. "But I have always loved playing at Arco. The fans here really get behind their team. As a visitor, you liked coming in here and trying to get them real quiet."
---
Always a game the Kings looked forward to in the past, meeting the Los Angeles Lakers might not be as anticipated this season. Part of that reason - Vlade Divac.
The popular ex-King will be in uniform Friday when Sacramento visits the Staples Center.
"It will be very different seeing Vlade in another uniform," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "Vlade is going to help them though. He's going to make them a better team."
Suffering from a herniated disk in his lower back, Divac missed the first 11 games this season. He played five scoreless minutes Tuesday in a victory against the Bucks.
Chris Webber feels the rivalry the two teams had over the last five seasons is greatly diminished with the departing of coach Phil Jackson and Shaquille O'Neal.
"It's not the same anymore, Vlade, Peja and I were the ones," Webber said. "If Shaq's not there, it's over. We're just two teams trying to win a championship."
---
Two years removed from playing with the Indiana, Brad Miller still has ex-teammates on the Pacers, who were involved in last week's brawl with fans in Detroit.
In fact, Miller played 1 seasons with the Bulls and was traded along with Ron Artest and Kevin Ollie to the Pacers in February 2002.
After another year and a half with Indiana, he came to Sacramento last season. Miller knows a little something about fights, provoking Shaquille O'Neil into taking a swing at him while with Indiana.
Miller wasn't shocked when a problem developed between the Pacers and Pistons, perhaps a leftover from an emotional playoff series won by eventual NBA champion Detroit.
"I know there's been some bad blood between Detroit and Indiana from when I was there," Miller said. "But what happened is crazy and uncalled for."
---
Notes: Doug Christie had his best game of the season against Memphis, getting 16 points, nine assists and five rebounds ... Through 10 games, Webber was averaging a team-leading 19 shots a game and Stojakovic was taking 16 ... Bobby Jackson escaped a shooting slump for a night, making 7 of 14 shots, including three 3-pointers, and scoring 18 points in Tuesday's win over Houston.
