http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14161485p-14989366c.html
Adelman hopes rookie follows Martin's lead
Francisco García's game is beginning to come around after a rough start to the season.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
The true original returns to Arco Arena for the first time tonight.
His name is Bobby Jackson, a man known at another time as the provider of all things energetic and productive off the Kings' bench.
As coach Rick Adelman has mentioned a few dozen times since Jackson was traded to Memphis for Bonzi Wells last August, he always knew what Jackson would bring - namely an always-reliable output that took pressure off the bigger-name players.
The in-house prototype these days is Kevin Martin, the Kings' second-year shooting guard who has filled a variation of the role with a surge in the last 24 games worthy of boundless praise.
Next up, Adelman hopes, is Francisco García.
With the Kings' win over Utah on Sunday came a flash of García's potential that Adelman sees every day in practice. García burying shots. García blocking shots. García bringing a versatile attack like none other on the roster. His fourth-quarter outburst included three gap-widening three-pointers and four blocks.
"Once he made that first (three), he got some confidence," Adelman said. "I'm hoping what happened for Kevin is what happens for (García), because he's going to get on the floor. Both of those kids are going to play, and they just have to keep learning and getting better every game."
One down, one to go.
Martin was the first to make the leap to legitimacy, seizing the opportunity that came when Wells injured his groin on Dec. 19. Since Wells went down and Martin took his place, Martin has shot 52.4 percent from the field (100-191), 44.8 percent from three-point range (26-58) and averaged 13.4 points per game. In the season's first 19 games, Martin hit just 27 of 74 shots and 3 of 19 three-pointers.
Wells - who re-strained the groin against Utah on Friday - will miss his second consecutive game tonight, missing a chance to face his old team while Martin will make another start. García's challenge, though, is different. Among his improvements is a more efficient long-range game, as García has hit 16 of his last 45 three-pointers (35.6 percent) after missing 41 of his first 47 (12.8 percent).
"Francisco has to learn how to come in the game, and get involved in the game off the bench," Adelman said. "He's not going to play 35 minutes, but he still can be effective in 18 or 20."
And play like he practices.
It wasn't long ago that Martin faced the same crossroads. He was lauded for his offseason work and preseason practice routine, but his play didn't translate come game time. Adelman said it's an age-old process that not everyone survives.
"History says the second group always beats the first group (in practice)," Adelman said. "I remember Chet Walker, in Chicago, was an all-star every year he'd play. But every day in practice, a guy named Howard Porter would just kill him. Chet said, you know what, 'There are practice players and there are game players, and he's a practice player.' "
Which isn't how Adelman sees either of his young guns.
"If we're going to be a decent team the last 30 games, those guys have to be on the floor and they have to be progressing, because they're going to be good NBA players," he said. "We've always felt that way. But they've been thrown into the fire."
One García said he can handle.
"It's a learning experience," he said. "In the beginning, it was frustrating, but I've just got to keep working at it."
Walking wounded - Adelman held Ron Artest out of practice Monday to spare his small forward any more pain in his right hip. Artest, who suffered a hip pointer against Utah on Friday but played through the pain Sunday, will play tonight. Center Brad Miller (fractured thumb) is hoping to play, though he said he would test out his shooting and pass-catching ability today before deciding.
Adelman hopes rookie follows Martin's lead
Francisco García's game is beginning to come around after a rough start to the season.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
The true original returns to Arco Arena for the first time tonight.
His name is Bobby Jackson, a man known at another time as the provider of all things energetic and productive off the Kings' bench.
As coach Rick Adelman has mentioned a few dozen times since Jackson was traded to Memphis for Bonzi Wells last August, he always knew what Jackson would bring - namely an always-reliable output that took pressure off the bigger-name players.
The in-house prototype these days is Kevin Martin, the Kings' second-year shooting guard who has filled a variation of the role with a surge in the last 24 games worthy of boundless praise.
Next up, Adelman hopes, is Francisco García.
With the Kings' win over Utah on Sunday came a flash of García's potential that Adelman sees every day in practice. García burying shots. García blocking shots. García bringing a versatile attack like none other on the roster. His fourth-quarter outburst included three gap-widening three-pointers and four blocks.
"Once he made that first (three), he got some confidence," Adelman said. "I'm hoping what happened for Kevin is what happens for (García), because he's going to get on the floor. Both of those kids are going to play, and they just have to keep learning and getting better every game."
One down, one to go.
Martin was the first to make the leap to legitimacy, seizing the opportunity that came when Wells injured his groin on Dec. 19. Since Wells went down and Martin took his place, Martin has shot 52.4 percent from the field (100-191), 44.8 percent from three-point range (26-58) and averaged 13.4 points per game. In the season's first 19 games, Martin hit just 27 of 74 shots and 3 of 19 three-pointers.
Wells - who re-strained the groin against Utah on Friday - will miss his second consecutive game tonight, missing a chance to face his old team while Martin will make another start. García's challenge, though, is different. Among his improvements is a more efficient long-range game, as García has hit 16 of his last 45 three-pointers (35.6 percent) after missing 41 of his first 47 (12.8 percent).
"Francisco has to learn how to come in the game, and get involved in the game off the bench," Adelman said. "He's not going to play 35 minutes, but he still can be effective in 18 or 20."
And play like he practices.
It wasn't long ago that Martin faced the same crossroads. He was lauded for his offseason work and preseason practice routine, but his play didn't translate come game time. Adelman said it's an age-old process that not everyone survives.
"History says the second group always beats the first group (in practice)," Adelman said. "I remember Chet Walker, in Chicago, was an all-star every year he'd play. But every day in practice, a guy named Howard Porter would just kill him. Chet said, you know what, 'There are practice players and there are game players, and he's a practice player.' "
Which isn't how Adelman sees either of his young guns.
"If we're going to be a decent team the last 30 games, those guys have to be on the floor and they have to be progressing, because they're going to be good NBA players," he said. "We've always felt that way. But they've been thrown into the fire."
One García said he can handle.
"It's a learning experience," he said. "In the beginning, it was frustrating, but I've just got to keep working at it."
Walking wounded - Adelman held Ron Artest out of practice Monday to spare his small forward any more pain in his right hip. Artest, who suffered a hip pointer against Utah on Friday but played through the pain Sunday, will play tonight. Center Brad Miller (fractured thumb) is hoping to play, though he said he would test out his shooting and pass-catching ability today before deciding.
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