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Bibby, Miller injured
Point guard will miss at least two weeks; center is day-to-day
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The Kings received positive news of the most negative kind Monday with X-rays revealing injuries to starters Mike Bibby and Brad Miller.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The most sobering revelation stemmed from Bibby's right hand, where a medical definition was required to explain his "mallet thumb," otherwise known as a thumb-tip injury in which the extensor tendon is avulsed off the distal bone.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Translation: Enough discomfort to keep the point guard out of action for at least two weeks and perhaps three.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Miller has a small chip fracture in the fifth finger on his right hand. The center is listed as day-to-day.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Bibby, whose thumb was hit during the third quarter of the Kings' exhibition victory over New Orleans in Reno on Sunday night, will wear a splint on the thumb for two weeks. And despite his reputation for playing through injuries, he said no one should expect a miraculous return by the beginning of the regular season Nov. 1.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"I'm glad it's not too bad where I have to sit out a long, long time," Bibby said. "It's going to be two weeks, they said, but I think I heal quick. I'm not going to try to come back too early, but I want to play." [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]As does Miller, who predicted before the X-ray results that he would play tonight against the Hornets. The results make that prediction a long shot. While Bibby missed Monday's practice, Miller participated but stayed away from contact.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"We're concerned about Mike and Brad," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "I think (Bibby) is determined to get in even better shape than he is now, or stay the same. He doesn't want to take any step backwards from a conditioning standpoint." [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]And stepping forward in his place? John Salmons.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]With his digits intact, Salmons will be asked to depart from his role of juggling three positions and hone in on the crucial one. But there is an element of better-late-than-never in the promotion, as Salmons thought he would be guiding a team from the point around this time last season.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]All appearances last training camp in Philadelphia were that Salmons would be the starting point guard, but speculation was that franchise face Allen Iverson vetoed the plan to take the spot himself. Asked if that story was accurate, Salmons simply said, "Yeah, I heard the same thing," with a chuckle.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]There is no such doubt this time for Salmons, who signed a five-year, $25 million, free-agent contract. His training camp began on an unflattering note, when he was one of three players to fail Musselman's mandatory conditioning test. But since, he has impressed.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]In practice, Salmons often has run the point guard spot with the second unit, making the transition easier when it comes to Musselman's playbook. Salmons has averaged 24 minutes in five exhibition games, scoring nine points and grabbing four rebounds per game.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"He's been good," Miller said. "Obviously, it's a new system for all of us, but he's been doing a good job picking it up. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"You go from a situation where you don't get to do too much at all with the ball (in Philadelphia) to a place where the coach wants you to play the (point guard, shooting guard and small forward positions), and your confidence grows." [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Though Salmons played some point guard with the 76ers, he said the role hasn't been his for an extended time since his senior year at the University of Miami in 2002.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"It's been awhile, but it's just getting the other players in the right position and knowing where everybody is supposed to be on the court," Salmons said. "As far as running the offense, that's the biggest thing." [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]For Bibby's part, he said there will be no return trips to Reno, where he already had a painful history. In 2002, Bibby broke his foot in an exhibition game against Utah and missed two months.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"You can blame Reno," he said. "I'll never play in Reno again."[/FONT]
Bibby, Miller injured
Point guard will miss at least two weeks; center is day-to-day
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The Kings received positive news of the most negative kind Monday with X-rays revealing injuries to starters Mike Bibby and Brad Miller.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The most sobering revelation stemmed from Bibby's right hand, where a medical definition was required to explain his "mallet thumb," otherwise known as a thumb-tip injury in which the extensor tendon is avulsed off the distal bone.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Translation: Enough discomfort to keep the point guard out of action for at least two weeks and perhaps three.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Miller has a small chip fracture in the fifth finger on his right hand. The center is listed as day-to-day.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Bibby, whose thumb was hit during the third quarter of the Kings' exhibition victory over New Orleans in Reno on Sunday night, will wear a splint on the thumb for two weeks. And despite his reputation for playing through injuries, he said no one should expect a miraculous return by the beginning of the regular season Nov. 1.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"I'm glad it's not too bad where I have to sit out a long, long time," Bibby said. "It's going to be two weeks, they said, but I think I heal quick. I'm not going to try to come back too early, but I want to play." [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]As does Miller, who predicted before the X-ray results that he would play tonight against the Hornets. The results make that prediction a long shot. While Bibby missed Monday's practice, Miller participated but stayed away from contact.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"We're concerned about Mike and Brad," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "I think (Bibby) is determined to get in even better shape than he is now, or stay the same. He doesn't want to take any step backwards from a conditioning standpoint." [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]And stepping forward in his place? John Salmons.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]With his digits intact, Salmons will be asked to depart from his role of juggling three positions and hone in on the crucial one. But there is an element of better-late-than-never in the promotion, as Salmons thought he would be guiding a team from the point around this time last season.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]All appearances last training camp in Philadelphia were that Salmons would be the starting point guard, but speculation was that franchise face Allen Iverson vetoed the plan to take the spot himself. Asked if that story was accurate, Salmons simply said, "Yeah, I heard the same thing," with a chuckle.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]There is no such doubt this time for Salmons, who signed a five-year, $25 million, free-agent contract. His training camp began on an unflattering note, when he was one of three players to fail Musselman's mandatory conditioning test. But since, he has impressed.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]In practice, Salmons often has run the point guard spot with the second unit, making the transition easier when it comes to Musselman's playbook. Salmons has averaged 24 minutes in five exhibition games, scoring nine points and grabbing four rebounds per game.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"He's been good," Miller said. "Obviously, it's a new system for all of us, but he's been doing a good job picking it up. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"You go from a situation where you don't get to do too much at all with the ball (in Philadelphia) to a place where the coach wants you to play the (point guard, shooting guard and small forward positions), and your confidence grows." [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Though Salmons played some point guard with the 76ers, he said the role hasn't been his for an extended time since his senior year at the University of Miami in 2002.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"It's been awhile, but it's just getting the other players in the right position and knowing where everybody is supposed to be on the court," Salmons said. "As far as running the offense, that's the biggest thing." [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]For Bibby's part, he said there will be no return trips to Reno, where he already had a painful history. In 2002, Bibby broke his foot in an exhibition game against Utah and missed two months.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"You can blame Reno," he said. "I'll never play in Reno again."[/FONT]
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