EmKingsFan4
Starter
If you are a coach, should you be allowed to place someone on the injured list who is not injured? Is it ethically fair? I don't think so...what a shame for poor Skinner, his talent wasted on the bench for all that time.
Adelman's "Nasty Nine" hee hee...I like that!!
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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12528276p-13383703c.html
Kings, foe try to cope
Sacramento and Memphis are plagued by injuries entering tonight's game.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Tuesday, March 8, 2005
While attempting to find a comfort level between the old and the new, the Kings have the other not-so-incidental matters of trying to win games, maintain or improve their playoff position and get healthy.
Kings coach Rick Adelman has warned throughout the season about putting that playoff cart before the regular-season horse. Not everyone had that mind-set when January 2005 arrived, but the Kings hadn't lost 10 of 14 games at that juncture, either.
Nor had they brought in five new players via trade and free-agent acquisition.
Nor was the coach able to see Indiana star power forward Jermaine O'Neal go down with a shoulder separation, jeopardizing the Pacers' playoff chances.
So Adelman will take the nine healthy bodies expected to be available tonight and attempt to swing a victory against coach Mike Fratello and his likewise injury-depleted Memphis Grizzlies at Arco Arena.
Adelman said Monday afternoon that newly acquired forward Kenny Thomas (death in his family) is out and center Brad Miller (right calf contusion) and guard Cuttino Mobley (back spasms) are doubtful. All are starters.
So Adelman will take his nasty nine and see if they can muster enough continuity, consistency and execution to deal with Memphis, which defeated the Clippers 105-102 Monday night in Los Angeles.
The Grizzlies (34-25) aren't to be overlooked. Despite injuries that have sidelined key performers Pau Gasol, Bonzi Wells and James Posey, Memphis has won four straight games, is 29-14 under Fratello and trails the Kings by just one game in the loss column in the Western Conference standings.
"Our new guys have to understand what they can do inside our offense to help us," Adelman said, "and the more we practice, we'll have a better idea of what they can do defensively to help us and make us more active. They've all played in the league, but they've got to get comfortable playing with our guys, and we've got to get comfortable playing with them."
It sounds easy to throw the new Kings onto the floor with the others, but it's hardly that simple. Some players have different roles with the Kings than they had with their former teams.
Brian Skinner, for example, had no role with the Philadelphia 76ers. He was on the injured list much of the season, even though Skinner said he was healthy, according to Adelman.
Skinner joined the Kings for the Feb. 26 game against Philadelphia. The following day in Washington, Miller injured his calf, and Skinner likely will start his fifth straight game in the center's place.
"Players coming from different systems," Adelman said, "may not understand that if there is a (player) cutting out there on the court, someone else is going to be open if that guy isn't open. That's what we went through (Monday). I think our new guys may be able to make some plays and do some things maybe they weren't asked to do before."
Adelman said the remaining 12 home games and nine on the road are critical. "If we win games like we did (Sunday against Detroit)," he said, "and we win at home, nobody is going to catch us. We're going to be fine. But if (we) go through any type of down period or more injuries ... (we're) not a lock to win any game. And if a team like Denver or Minnesota gets hot, (it is) capable of winning 10 in a row."
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