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http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/82830.html
As if the recent losing streak wasn't bad enough news for the Kings, they might be without small forward Ron Artest for the foreseeable future.
Artest did not travel to Seattle on Friday, instead staying in Sacramento to have a magnetic resonance imaging exam taken on the back that has bothered him for nearly two weeks.
The results should be known today, but Artest's absence reinforced that the Kings have been in plenty of pain lately. Artest didn't start against Memphis on Nov. 15 because of his back pain, which he said resulted from driving his wife's Mercedes SL 500, a car too small for his 6-foot-7 frame. Artest has since returned to driving his Hummer, but the back has yet to return to health.
Although he played against Memphis and in the three games thereafter, he said he was in serious pain against Utah on Wednesday and hobbled repeatedly on the court while holding his back.
"Without Ron, (who) obviously (is) the steals leader in the league and a guy who can play multiple positions, we will miss him," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "But having said that, we miss Brad (Miller), and we don't talk about (that) because we're not going to talk about missing anybody from this point on."
Miller, however, might return early. The center suffered a torn tendon in his left foot Nov. 4 and was expected to miss at least four weeks. But according to athletic trainer Pete Youngman, Miller is making "steady progress" and could return next week.
Miller ditched his walking boot last Saturday and has since taken part in half-speed shooting drills and plenty of exercise routines. Before Friday's game, Miller performed a series of stretches with the Kings training staff and took shots from the KeyArena floor.
Other injuries -- As for the rest of the languishing lot, Kings point guard Mike Bibby left Wednesday's home game against Utah early in the third quarter with a left thigh contusion but started against the SuperSonics.
Swingman John Salmons, who missed three games with a right thigh contusion and played just seven minutes in his return against Utah, also started against Seattle.
The injuries are new territory for Musselman, who said his 2002-03 Golden State Warriors went 70-plus games with the same starting unit.
"It's a little unfamiliar with me, but it happens to every team in the league at some point," he said.
About the writer:
Kind of interesting that Muss had zero injuries at Golden State
As if the recent losing streak wasn't bad enough news for the Kings, they might be without small forward Ron Artest for the foreseeable future.
Artest did not travel to Seattle on Friday, instead staying in Sacramento to have a magnetic resonance imaging exam taken on the back that has bothered him for nearly two weeks.
The results should be known today, but Artest's absence reinforced that the Kings have been in plenty of pain lately. Artest didn't start against Memphis on Nov. 15 because of his back pain, which he said resulted from driving his wife's Mercedes SL 500, a car too small for his 6-foot-7 frame. Artest has since returned to driving his Hummer, but the back has yet to return to health.
Although he played against Memphis and in the three games thereafter, he said he was in serious pain against Utah on Wednesday and hobbled repeatedly on the court while holding his back.
"Without Ron, (who) obviously (is) the steals leader in the league and a guy who can play multiple positions, we will miss him," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "But having said that, we miss Brad (Miller), and we don't talk about (that) because we're not going to talk about missing anybody from this point on."
Miller, however, might return early. The center suffered a torn tendon in his left foot Nov. 4 and was expected to miss at least four weeks. But according to athletic trainer Pete Youngman, Miller is making "steady progress" and could return next week.
Miller ditched his walking boot last Saturday and has since taken part in half-speed shooting drills and plenty of exercise routines. Before Friday's game, Miller performed a series of stretches with the Kings training staff and took shots from the KeyArena floor.
Other injuries -- As for the rest of the languishing lot, Kings point guard Mike Bibby left Wednesday's home game against Utah early in the third quarter with a left thigh contusion but started against the SuperSonics.
Swingman John Salmons, who missed three games with a right thigh contusion and played just seven minutes in his return against Utah, also started against Seattle.
The injuries are new territory for Musselman, who said his 2002-03 Golden State Warriors went 70-plus games with the same starting unit.
"It's a little unfamiliar with me, but it happens to every team in the league at some point," he said.
About the writer:
- The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com
Kind of interesting that Muss had zero injuries at Golden State
You would think
