http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/14228430p-15051828c.html
Artest's influence is critical
His arrival signaled an obvious - and needed - Kings' U-turn.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, March 10, 2006
A Kings fan e-mailed The Bee on Thursday, complaining about the team's television commentators and a perceived overuse of Ron Artest's name.
"That is all we hear," the woman wrote. "We are putting the games on mute because it is just too much."
But all the Kings have done since he arrived is make noise. Even on nights in which Artest himself goes quiet, such as Monday's 11-point outing against New Jersey or his nine-point performance Wednesday against Milwaukee, he bears mention because the Kings were nowhere without him.
As they return from their 4-1 road trip that has placed them in the thick of an already-thick playoff race, the Kings are bordering on another development that once seemed out of reach: a .500 record.
A win over Memphis tonight at Arco Arena means they will break even for the first time since Nov. 29, when they were 7-7. Then, there was much confusion, with coaches and players puzzled over the sluggish start that eventually had them as many as eight games below .500.
Artest, like it or not, spurred the turnaround. The Kings were 18-24 before he joined them Jan. 26 and are 12-7 since then.
"It's been like a new season since (Artest) got here," Kings center Brad Miller said. "He hadn't played much last season and a half, and we were trying to figure out our identity, which we didn't really have at the beginning of the year. All the guys have just got real comfortable, learning each other all over again."
With a few more converted free throws in Washington D.C., the Kings could very well have gone undefeated on the getaway. Not bad considering they went in carrying a 7-19 road record.
"That was a big trip for us," said shooting guard Kevin Martin, who had predicted this trip would determine the outcome of the season. "That's what we needed to do. It just gives us more confidence. We can win on the road now, and that'll be big for us down the road."
Martin was one of the many to exorcise road demons. Going in, double-digit scoring games away from Sacramento were a rarity for him, but he averaged 14.6 in the five games and hit 26 of 53 shots. Mike Bibby had his best breakouts in some time, scoring 29 points in a 25-point rout of New Jersey and 36 in the finale, a 123-116 win over Milwaukee.
While the defense remains improved from the pre-Artest days, the Kings have averaged 113 points in the last three games. They've scored 100-plus points in nine of the last 12 games.
With Bonzi Wells back from his groin injury, a once-unproductive Kings bench has become potent. Wells and forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim form an experienced and highly capable bench, and they combined for 33 points in the win over the Bucks.
The total neared the season high of 42 points and gave the Kings an average of 23 reserve points per game on the trip.
Swingman Francisco García (sprained left ankle) hopes to join the group in less than a week.
"(Bibby) has been very good on the road, and very good in the fourth quarter," coach Rick Adelman said. "It's been good to see Bonzi. He's a good team defender and a good rebounder, and with him back, that really helps us."
Winning at home has helped, too. The Kings have won 10 straight at Arco Arena, where Memphis will be followed by Dallas and the Lakers before the road calls again.
While the Grizzlies and Lakers both are 15-18 on the road, the Mavericks' 20-8 mark leads the league.
"We're not really worried about them," Artest said of anyone not wearing purple and white. "We're worried about ourselves. A lot of teams in the playoffs are at .500, under .500, and we're trying to finish way above that."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Artest's influence is critical
His arrival signaled an obvious - and needed - Kings' U-turn.
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, March 10, 2006
A Kings fan e-mailed The Bee on Thursday, complaining about the team's television commentators and a perceived overuse of Ron Artest's name.
"That is all we hear," the woman wrote. "We are putting the games on mute because it is just too much."
But all the Kings have done since he arrived is make noise. Even on nights in which Artest himself goes quiet, such as Monday's 11-point outing against New Jersey or his nine-point performance Wednesday against Milwaukee, he bears mention because the Kings were nowhere without him.
As they return from their 4-1 road trip that has placed them in the thick of an already-thick playoff race, the Kings are bordering on another development that once seemed out of reach: a .500 record.
A win over Memphis tonight at Arco Arena means they will break even for the first time since Nov. 29, when they were 7-7. Then, there was much confusion, with coaches and players puzzled over the sluggish start that eventually had them as many as eight games below .500.
Artest, like it or not, spurred the turnaround. The Kings were 18-24 before he joined them Jan. 26 and are 12-7 since then.
"It's been like a new season since (Artest) got here," Kings center Brad Miller said. "He hadn't played much last season and a half, and we were trying to figure out our identity, which we didn't really have at the beginning of the year. All the guys have just got real comfortable, learning each other all over again."
With a few more converted free throws in Washington D.C., the Kings could very well have gone undefeated on the getaway. Not bad considering they went in carrying a 7-19 road record.
"That was a big trip for us," said shooting guard Kevin Martin, who had predicted this trip would determine the outcome of the season. "That's what we needed to do. It just gives us more confidence. We can win on the road now, and that'll be big for us down the road."
Martin was one of the many to exorcise road demons. Going in, double-digit scoring games away from Sacramento were a rarity for him, but he averaged 14.6 in the five games and hit 26 of 53 shots. Mike Bibby had his best breakouts in some time, scoring 29 points in a 25-point rout of New Jersey and 36 in the finale, a 123-116 win over Milwaukee.
While the defense remains improved from the pre-Artest days, the Kings have averaged 113 points in the last three games. They've scored 100-plus points in nine of the last 12 games.
With Bonzi Wells back from his groin injury, a once-unproductive Kings bench has become potent. Wells and forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim form an experienced and highly capable bench, and they combined for 33 points in the win over the Bucks.
The total neared the season high of 42 points and gave the Kings an average of 23 reserve points per game on the trip.
Swingman Francisco García (sprained left ankle) hopes to join the group in less than a week.
"(Bibby) has been very good on the road, and very good in the fourth quarter," coach Rick Adelman said. "It's been good to see Bonzi. He's a good team defender and a good rebounder, and with him back, that really helps us."
Winning at home has helped, too. The Kings have won 10 straight at Arco Arena, where Memphis will be followed by Dallas and the Lakers before the road calls again.
While the Grizzlies and Lakers both are 15-18 on the road, the Mavericks' 20-8 mark leads the league.
"We're not really worried about them," Artest said of anyone not wearing purple and white. "We're worried about ourselves. A lot of teams in the playoffs are at .500, under .500, and we're trying to finish way above that."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
