http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/123322.html
A rough night
Artest scores 39 but makes two blunders handling ball
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:23 am PST Wednesday, February 14, 2007
HOUSTON-His night of basketball schizophrenia complete, Ron Artest said he lost his footing but not his way and that he still thinks the ball should be in his hands in the tense moments. So at least he has a point guard's mentality.
It was after his swerving Tuesday night at the Toyota Center. Artest tied a career high with 39 points, but he had made two critical mistakes as the ballhandler, one a mental lapse and another a failed execution with a chance to win the game.
He also had eight rebounds and the stated support of coach Eric Musselman. But the Kings had a 109-104 overtime loss to the Houston Rockets after leading by nine with 4:09 left in regulation.
With 7:12 to play in the fourth quarter, Artest dribbled out the 24-second clock, with no apparent awareness he was near a turnover. At the time, the Kings were building momentum for what might have become one of their biggest victories of the season and the symbol of their February recovery.
Then, with the chance to win after Artest had stolen the ball, the Kings called timeout with 23.5 seconds left in the fourth. In a 97-97 game, they could play for the last shot.
Artest brought the ball into the frontcourt and worked the clock down. He lost his dribble about 35 feet from the basket, picked it up and passed to Mike Bibby, then got a return pass. Artest lost the handle again.
Houston grabbed the free ball. The Rockets were unable to turn it into a last-second basket, but they had survived that final defensive stand without the Kings getting so much as a shot, reaching overtime.
"I just know next time not to lose the ball," Artest said. "Next time, to make sure I get the bucket."
The explanation was simple enough. The night was Artest's potential greatness and uncertainty come together.
"I slipped twice, unfortunately," he said. "The ball got caught on my leg one time. The other time, I lost my footing."
Bibby was on the floor at the critical moment. He was asked later about the difference between an experienced point guard handling the ball in that kind of moment and a small forward who has been entrusted by former coach Rick Adelman and Musselman to run the offense.
"I'm just here," Bibby said. "I'm just here."
The Rockets would not waste the opportunity of overtime, building a 107-104 lead with 33 seconds to go. The Kings still had enough time for a comfortable play and a three-point attempt to tie but got another failed execution instead. John Salmons became trapped along the sideline, and Luther Head knocked the ball away from him.
End of chances.
The Kings fouled immediately to stop the clock. Then they quickly fouled again to send Head to the line, hoping he would miss at least one and they could stay alive with a three-pointer and a subsequent foul.
When Head made both with seven seconds left, the margin had grown to an insurmountable 109-104.
"There were a lot of frustrating things to that game," Kevin Martin said. "Just because we lost."
This was merely the biggest test for the resurgent offense that had grown from the ruins of the 10-point third quarter Jan. 26 at New Orleans. The next night, the Kings shot 52.7 percent against Dallas, a quality defensive team, and took off from there until the winning streak had reached five and the shooting had become uncommonly accurate.
Entering Tuesday, the Kings still were just 22nd in the league in field-goal percentage at 44.9. But starting with that previous pass through Texas, they had played eight games, shot 50 percent or better three times and better than the 44.9 two other outings. Among those at the real gold standard -- 50 percent -- two were at the expense of teams in the top 10 in shooting defense, the Mavericks and Hornets.
The Rockets, though, were No. 1. The Kings started strong, only to finish at 44.4 percent, encouragement and disappointment merged again.
About the writer: The Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper can be reached at showard-cooper@sacbee.com.
A rough night
Artest scores 39 but makes two blunders handling ball
By Scott Howard-Cooper - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:23 am PST Wednesday, February 14, 2007
HOUSTON-His night of basketball schizophrenia complete, Ron Artest said he lost his footing but not his way and that he still thinks the ball should be in his hands in the tense moments. So at least he has a point guard's mentality.
It was after his swerving Tuesday night at the Toyota Center. Artest tied a career high with 39 points, but he had made two critical mistakes as the ballhandler, one a mental lapse and another a failed execution with a chance to win the game.
He also had eight rebounds and the stated support of coach Eric Musselman. But the Kings had a 109-104 overtime loss to the Houston Rockets after leading by nine with 4:09 left in regulation.
With 7:12 to play in the fourth quarter, Artest dribbled out the 24-second clock, with no apparent awareness he was near a turnover. At the time, the Kings were building momentum for what might have become one of their biggest victories of the season and the symbol of their February recovery.
Then, with the chance to win after Artest had stolen the ball, the Kings called timeout with 23.5 seconds left in the fourth. In a 97-97 game, they could play for the last shot.
Artest brought the ball into the frontcourt and worked the clock down. He lost his dribble about 35 feet from the basket, picked it up and passed to Mike Bibby, then got a return pass. Artest lost the handle again.
Houston grabbed the free ball. The Rockets were unable to turn it into a last-second basket, but they had survived that final defensive stand without the Kings getting so much as a shot, reaching overtime.
"I just know next time not to lose the ball," Artest said. "Next time, to make sure I get the bucket."
The explanation was simple enough. The night was Artest's potential greatness and uncertainty come together.
"I slipped twice, unfortunately," he said. "The ball got caught on my leg one time. The other time, I lost my footing."
Bibby was on the floor at the critical moment. He was asked later about the difference between an experienced point guard handling the ball in that kind of moment and a small forward who has been entrusted by former coach Rick Adelman and Musselman to run the offense.
"I'm just here," Bibby said. "I'm just here."
The Rockets would not waste the opportunity of overtime, building a 107-104 lead with 33 seconds to go. The Kings still had enough time for a comfortable play and a three-point attempt to tie but got another failed execution instead. John Salmons became trapped along the sideline, and Luther Head knocked the ball away from him.
End of chances.
The Kings fouled immediately to stop the clock. Then they quickly fouled again to send Head to the line, hoping he would miss at least one and they could stay alive with a three-pointer and a subsequent foul.
When Head made both with seven seconds left, the margin had grown to an insurmountable 109-104.
"There were a lot of frustrating things to that game," Kevin Martin said. "Just because we lost."
This was merely the biggest test for the resurgent offense that had grown from the ruins of the 10-point third quarter Jan. 26 at New Orleans. The next night, the Kings shot 52.7 percent against Dallas, a quality defensive team, and took off from there until the winning streak had reached five and the shooting had become uncommonly accurate.
Entering Tuesday, the Kings still were just 22nd in the league in field-goal percentage at 44.9. But starting with that previous pass through Texas, they had played eight games, shot 50 percent or better three times and better than the 44.9 two other outings. Among those at the real gold standard -- 50 percent -- two were at the expense of teams in the top 10 in shooting defense, the Mavericks and Hornets.
The Rockets, though, were No. 1. The Kings started strong, only to finish at 44.4 percent, encouragement and disappointment merged again.
About the writer: The Bee's Scott Howard-Cooper can be reached at showard-cooper@sacbee.com.
That is one of the oddest responses I've seen a player give.
