http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14124868p-14953906c.html
Artest passes first test
Forward effective in first Sacramento start
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, January 28, 2006
BOSTON - There was something different about the shoes, not to mention the player wearing them.
In his Kings debut, the newly acquired Ron Artest ran the TD Banknorth Garden floor in a pair of kicks that, unlike their owner, looked past their prime.
They looked cheap and worn.
And they were a strange brand of black.
But not until after the Artest debut - when the Kings and their new forward fell 84-74 to the Boston Celtics on Friday - was the truth about the shoes revealed.
"They're white," Artest said. "I didn't know the team was wearing black, so I painted them."
He used spray paint. He used a Sharpie. And besides, these shoes were "16 or 17 games old," holdovers from the Indiana era and ready to be replaced.
"I need a change, anyway," he said.
Change finally came for Artest after 51 days away from the NBA, his trade request Dec. 10 leading to his deactivation from the Pacers' lineup, all of which served as a double whammy after his 73-game suspension from the season before.
And while there will never be an eraser big enough to wipe Artest's past off the public chalkboard, the Kings said they are welcoming Artest with a clean slate. They intend to forget the past, not only the numerous incidents and antics but, most of all, the unsightly way in which he took part in last season's brawl in Detroit.
Such was the message from Kings coach Rick Adelman in the days and hours before the first tipoff - from the plane ride to Boston on Thursday to their meeting in Adelman's hotel room Friday.
"He welcomed me with open arms and kind of didn't judge me, which made me feel real good," Artest said.
"Everybody pretty much met each other with a clear mind, a clear conscience. The past is the past, and nobody was bringing up the past, so that's a good thing."
Adelman said the relationship will take time to grow.
"I think it's a situation where, it's not like one talk is going to make you trust and love each other," Adelman said. "It's going to have to be a process, day in and day out. That's why I said: 'You've got to trust me, and I trust you. All I care about is what you're doing with this team and if you're a positive impact on it.' And he was ready to play."
He certainly was. Adelman decided to start the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year and one-time All-Star, and Artest responded by hitting his first three shots - one of them a three-pointer. He was booed loudly by the Celtics crowd, at introductions and whenever he touched the ball thereafter. On a night which the Celtics welcomed newly acquired Wally Szczerbiak - who was part of a seven-player trade between Minnesota and Boston that went down Thursday - it created quite a contrast from the crowd, which cheered nearly everything Szczerbiak did.
Artest looked winded early, often taking his time returning down the floor so as to conserve energy. In all, he looked more than respectable, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and four steals in 31 minutes. His impact was unmistakable, as the Kings often surged when he was on the floor and fell back when he was on the bench.
The Kings shot a season-low 30.7 percent from the field, looking out of sorts throughout as they tried to adjust to their new teammate. Five Celtics scored in double figures.
As a room full of media awaited Artest's arrival afterward, he sat at his locker putting on his clothes. He wrapped a striped blue and red tie around his blue shirt, tying it like a pro.
"Man, I have been gone for a few years," said Kings center Brad Miller, a former teammate of Artest's who had 22 points. "You can tie a tie now."
Artest laughed.
"I've learned a few things," he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------
CELTICS 84, KINGS 74
Ron Artest's debut
MINUTES: 31
POINTS: 15
REBOUNDS: 6
ASSISTS: 2
STEALS: 4
SOUND BITE
"Everybody pretty much met each other with a clear mind, clear conscience. The past is the past, and nobody was bringing up the past, so that's a good thing." - Ron Artest - On the reception from his new team
BEST MOMENT
* Artest began his Kings career by burying his first three shots, all jumpers, including a three-pointer.
FROM THE SEATS
* As Artest practiced his one-handed layups before the game, a teenage boy wearing a Paul Pierce jersey yelled: "Artest, you're a joke! Try two hands!"
WITH AND WITHOUT HIM
How different are the Kings with Ron Artest playing? Here's how:
* Artest in first 7:27 of first quarter, Kings take 15-12 lead.
* Artest out next 9:02, Celtics lead 37-32 after 25-17 run.
* Artest in for final 7:31 of first half, Kings lead 43-41 after 11-4 run.
* Artest in for first 5:40 of third quarter, Celtics lead 55-53 after 14-10 run.
* Artest out for next 3:38, Celtics extend lead to 65-55 after 10-2 run.
* Artest in for next 7:14, Celtics lead 70-65 after 10-5 Kings run.
* Artest out for next 2:47, Celtics extend lead to 76-65 after 6-0 run.
* Artest in for final 4:41 of game, Celtics win 84-74 despite Kings' 9-8 run.
Totals
With Artest: Kings 55, Celtics 43. Without: Celtics 41, Kings 19.
Source: ESPN.com/NBA play-by-play.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Artest passes first test
Forward effective in first Sacramento start
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Saturday, January 28, 2006
BOSTON - There was something different about the shoes, not to mention the player wearing them.
In his Kings debut, the newly acquired Ron Artest ran the TD Banknorth Garden floor in a pair of kicks that, unlike their owner, looked past their prime.
They looked cheap and worn.
And they were a strange brand of black.
But not until after the Artest debut - when the Kings and their new forward fell 84-74 to the Boston Celtics on Friday - was the truth about the shoes revealed.
"They're white," Artest said. "I didn't know the team was wearing black, so I painted them."
He used spray paint. He used a Sharpie. And besides, these shoes were "16 or 17 games old," holdovers from the Indiana era and ready to be replaced.
"I need a change, anyway," he said.
Change finally came for Artest after 51 days away from the NBA, his trade request Dec. 10 leading to his deactivation from the Pacers' lineup, all of which served as a double whammy after his 73-game suspension from the season before.
And while there will never be an eraser big enough to wipe Artest's past off the public chalkboard, the Kings said they are welcoming Artest with a clean slate. They intend to forget the past, not only the numerous incidents and antics but, most of all, the unsightly way in which he took part in last season's brawl in Detroit.
Such was the message from Kings coach Rick Adelman in the days and hours before the first tipoff - from the plane ride to Boston on Thursday to their meeting in Adelman's hotel room Friday.
"He welcomed me with open arms and kind of didn't judge me, which made me feel real good," Artest said.
"Everybody pretty much met each other with a clear mind, a clear conscience. The past is the past, and nobody was bringing up the past, so that's a good thing."
Adelman said the relationship will take time to grow.
"I think it's a situation where, it's not like one talk is going to make you trust and love each other," Adelman said. "It's going to have to be a process, day in and day out. That's why I said: 'You've got to trust me, and I trust you. All I care about is what you're doing with this team and if you're a positive impact on it.' And he was ready to play."
He certainly was. Adelman decided to start the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year and one-time All-Star, and Artest responded by hitting his first three shots - one of them a three-pointer. He was booed loudly by the Celtics crowd, at introductions and whenever he touched the ball thereafter. On a night which the Celtics welcomed newly acquired Wally Szczerbiak - who was part of a seven-player trade between Minnesota and Boston that went down Thursday - it created quite a contrast from the crowd, which cheered nearly everything Szczerbiak did.
Artest looked winded early, often taking his time returning down the floor so as to conserve energy. In all, he looked more than respectable, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and four steals in 31 minutes. His impact was unmistakable, as the Kings often surged when he was on the floor and fell back when he was on the bench.
The Kings shot a season-low 30.7 percent from the field, looking out of sorts throughout as they tried to adjust to their new teammate. Five Celtics scored in double figures.
As a room full of media awaited Artest's arrival afterward, he sat at his locker putting on his clothes. He wrapped a striped blue and red tie around his blue shirt, tying it like a pro.
"Man, I have been gone for a few years," said Kings center Brad Miller, a former teammate of Artest's who had 22 points. "You can tie a tie now."
Artest laughed.
"I've learned a few things," he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------
CELTICS 84, KINGS 74
Ron Artest's debut
MINUTES: 31
POINTS: 15
REBOUNDS: 6
ASSISTS: 2
STEALS: 4
SOUND BITE
"Everybody pretty much met each other with a clear mind, clear conscience. The past is the past, and nobody was bringing up the past, so that's a good thing." - Ron Artest - On the reception from his new team
BEST MOMENT
* Artest began his Kings career by burying his first three shots, all jumpers, including a three-pointer.
FROM THE SEATS
* As Artest practiced his one-handed layups before the game, a teenage boy wearing a Paul Pierce jersey yelled: "Artest, you're a joke! Try two hands!"
WITH AND WITHOUT HIM
How different are the Kings with Ron Artest playing? Here's how:
* Artest in first 7:27 of first quarter, Kings take 15-12 lead.
* Artest out next 9:02, Celtics lead 37-32 after 25-17 run.
* Artest in for final 7:31 of first half, Kings lead 43-41 after 11-4 run.
* Artest in for first 5:40 of third quarter, Celtics lead 55-53 after 14-10 run.
* Artest out for next 3:38, Celtics extend lead to 65-55 after 10-2 run.
* Artest in for next 7:14, Celtics lead 70-65 after 10-5 Kings run.
* Artest out for next 2:47, Celtics extend lead to 76-65 after 6-0 run.
* Artest in for final 4:41 of game, Celtics win 84-74 despite Kings' 9-8 run.
Totals
With Artest: Kings 55, Celtics 43. Without: Celtics 41, Kings 19.
Source: ESPN.com/NBA play-by-play.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
