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Artest and Kings will be contenders in 2006-07
10.16.2006
(Basketball News) - The Sacramento Kings did not make a lot of personnel changes during the offseason. But, they do have a new head coach and former Defensive Player of the Year Ron Artest will be in the lineup from day one of the 2006-07 campaign
Sacramento finished last season with a 44-38 record and returned to the postseason for the eighth straight year. The Kings were the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs and faced No. 1 San Antonio in the opening round. The Spurs knocked out Sacramento in six contests, 4-2.
The biggest move for Sacramento was made on the bench, as Eric Musselman is the new head coach. The Kings hired Musselman, who was an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies for nearly two seasons and is a former head coach of the Golden State Warriors, on June 3rd as their new general after relieving Rick Adelman in early May of the head coaching duties. Adelman, who guided the Kings to three Pacific Division titles, spent eight seasons with Sacramento and is the franchise’s winningest coach.
Last season was saved on January 25th when Sacramento dealt sharp-shooting forward Peja Stojakovic to the Indiana Pacers for Artest. With the 26- year-old Artest in the lineup, the Kings were a solid 26-14 in the regular season and were able to get back to the postseason.
Artest, who is a one-time All-Star and was the 2003-04 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 16.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Kings last season. His intensity and hard-nosed defensive style rubbed off on his teammates and helped Sacramento become a tougher squad to compete against.
Starting point guard Mike Bibby, who completed his eighth year in the NBA, had his best season as a pro for the Kings in 2005-06. He led the team in scoring (21.1 ppg) and assists (5.4 apg). Bibby and forward Kenny Thomas Bibby were the only Kings to play in all 82 regular-season games.
Two-time All-Star center Brad Miller had another solid season, as he averaged 15.0 points and a team-best 7.8 rebounds, while forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who signed with the Kings as a free agent in August 2005, contributed 12.0 points and 5.3 boards per contest.
Bibby is on the verge of finally receiving a well deserved spot on an NBA All- Star team. The 28-year-old guard is the leader of the Kings and loves to have the ball in his hands when the game is on the line. Along with Artest and Miller, Bibby gives Sacramento a very dangerous and tough threesome.
Even though Bibby is the team leader, its Artest who has set the example on the court as to how the Kings are going to play. To say the controversial Artest has had problems in the past would be an understatement, but he has been nothing short of excellent in Sacramento.
There was one incident during last year’s playoffs, as Artest was suspended one game without pay for making forearm contact to the head of San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili in Game 1 of the first-round series. However, the fact is in the postseason emotions and physical play can and does get the best of any player.
Acquiring Artest has transformed the Kings into a different squad and it is showed in the teams attitude and their all-around play. They were once a team who simply tried to outscore their opponent. Now, Sacramento actually attempts to play defense and force the opposition into turnovers or bad decisions.
Dallas did not get over the playoff hump until it decided to play an all- around game. Head coach Avery Johnson got the Mavericks, who used to play the same way the Kings did, to play defense. The result was the first trip to the NBA Finals for the franchise. Even though Dallas fell in six games to the Miami Heat in 2006 finals, the Mavericks are a more dangerous and feared team with their new style of play.
It’s hard to believe, but Artest has had a positive influence on the Kings. On the court, they are a more complete team that has a swagger and plays with a chip on their shoulder.
Yes, San Antonio and Dallas are still the favorites in the West. However, if Artest keeps his concentration on playing basketball and the Kings continue to follow his lead on the court, there will be another serious contender in the Western Conference.
(NOTE: This article originated at Sportsnetwork.com. Here's the correct link: http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=nba/news/acn4044886.htm ) - VF21
10.16.2006
(Basketball News) - The Sacramento Kings did not make a lot of personnel changes during the offseason. But, they do have a new head coach and former Defensive Player of the Year Ron Artest will be in the lineup from day one of the 2006-07 campaign
Sacramento finished last season with a 44-38 record and returned to the postseason for the eighth straight year. The Kings were the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs and faced No. 1 San Antonio in the opening round. The Spurs knocked out Sacramento in six contests, 4-2.
The biggest move for Sacramento was made on the bench, as Eric Musselman is the new head coach. The Kings hired Musselman, who was an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies for nearly two seasons and is a former head coach of the Golden State Warriors, on June 3rd as their new general after relieving Rick Adelman in early May of the head coaching duties. Adelman, who guided the Kings to three Pacific Division titles, spent eight seasons with Sacramento and is the franchise’s winningest coach.
Last season was saved on January 25th when Sacramento dealt sharp-shooting forward Peja Stojakovic to the Indiana Pacers for Artest. With the 26- year-old Artest in the lineup, the Kings were a solid 26-14 in the regular season and were able to get back to the postseason.
Artest, who is a one-time All-Star and was the 2003-04 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 16.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Kings last season. His intensity and hard-nosed defensive style rubbed off on his teammates and helped Sacramento become a tougher squad to compete against.
Starting point guard Mike Bibby, who completed his eighth year in the NBA, had his best season as a pro for the Kings in 2005-06. He led the team in scoring (21.1 ppg) and assists (5.4 apg). Bibby and forward Kenny Thomas Bibby were the only Kings to play in all 82 regular-season games.
Two-time All-Star center Brad Miller had another solid season, as he averaged 15.0 points and a team-best 7.8 rebounds, while forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who signed with the Kings as a free agent in August 2005, contributed 12.0 points and 5.3 boards per contest.
Bibby is on the verge of finally receiving a well deserved spot on an NBA All- Star team. The 28-year-old guard is the leader of the Kings and loves to have the ball in his hands when the game is on the line. Along with Artest and Miller, Bibby gives Sacramento a very dangerous and tough threesome.
Even though Bibby is the team leader, its Artest who has set the example on the court as to how the Kings are going to play. To say the controversial Artest has had problems in the past would be an understatement, but he has been nothing short of excellent in Sacramento.
There was one incident during last year’s playoffs, as Artest was suspended one game without pay for making forearm contact to the head of San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili in Game 1 of the first-round series. However, the fact is in the postseason emotions and physical play can and does get the best of any player.
Acquiring Artest has transformed the Kings into a different squad and it is showed in the teams attitude and their all-around play. They were once a team who simply tried to outscore their opponent. Now, Sacramento actually attempts to play defense and force the opposition into turnovers or bad decisions.
Dallas did not get over the playoff hump until it decided to play an all- around game. Head coach Avery Johnson got the Mavericks, who used to play the same way the Kings did, to play defense. The result was the first trip to the NBA Finals for the franchise. Even though Dallas fell in six games to the Miami Heat in 2006 finals, the Mavericks are a more dangerous and feared team with their new style of play.
It’s hard to believe, but Artest has had a positive influence on the Kings. On the court, they are a more complete team that has a swagger and plays with a chip on their shoulder.
Yes, San Antonio and Dallas are still the favorites in the West. However, if Artest keeps his concentration on playing basketball and the Kings continue to follow his lead on the court, there will be another serious contender in the Western Conference.
(NOTE: This article originated at Sportsnetwork.com. Here's the correct link: http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=nba/news/acn4044886.htm ) - VF21
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Didn't we flog this to death in another thread?
