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Fast start sparks Kings
Shooters find their touches as century mark is surpassed
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 2:48 am PST Monday, November 13, 2006
There was a century-mark moment Sunday night at Arco Arena, but it wasn't the sort of triple-digit fun the Toronto Raptors had in mind.
The Canadian squad came to Arco Arena hoping to use its new run-and-gun style to sprint past the Kings, with a team-wide objective of hoisting 100 shots as long as their sneakers could withstand the pace. Instead, the Kings won 107-92, surpassing the 100-point mark for the first time this season, and their third consecutive victory came with an offensive discovery they had been waiting for.
A night of 48.7 percent shooting (37 of 76) was something altogether different for a team that entered with the second-worst accuracy mark in the NBA (39.9 percent). Small forward Ron Artest (23 points on 9-of-17 shooting) and point guard Mike Bibby (21 points on 8-of-16 shooting) finally hit those shots that fall every day in practice. The fact that shooting guard Kevin Martin was involved was nothing new, with the team's leading scorer turning in the sort of outing that is quickly becoming typical (26 points on 8-of-14 shooting).
Cohesion, for once, replaced chaos on the offensive end, which swingman John Salmons chalked up to a building chemistry.
"We definitely have a lot of guys who can score," said Salmons, who had a quiet outing against the team he was supposed to play for before reneging on the deal during the offseason. "I think that was part of the problem. We've got so many guys, and they were clashing. It's not that we can't get along, because tonight we showed we can."
The running Raptors were no secret to Kings coach Eric Musselman, who surely noticed coming in that they led the league in field-goal attempts per game (87.8). Point guard T.J. Ford, who came via trade from Milwaukee in the offseason, is considered by many to be the fastest player in the league. With that in mind, Musselman sounded like ESPN's Chris Berman with his pleas for transition defense, barking, "Back, back, back," when the Raptors jumped ahead early.
"I thought it was important to push the ball back at Toronto," Musselman said. "We understand they're an uptempo team ... (so) it would be to our benefit to try to score after makes or misses."
The script reversal worked, as the Kings had eight fast-break points to the Raptors' two in the first five minutes, when a Martin layup put them up 11-8. Ahead 20-18, the Kings went on a 21-7 run when Artest finally found his shot. After six games of subpar shooting, Artest hit his first six shots, including two from beyond the three-point arc that matched his season total coming in as the Kings put up 36 first-quarter points.
Midway through the second quarter, the Kings had hit 16 of their first 26 shots. Bibby hit six of his first eight as the Kings led 59-44 at halftime. The scoring had been sparked by a defense that was impressive once again, with the Kings grabbing nine steals by halftime and 12 for the game.
They had 29 points off a Raptors season-high 19 turnovers and never led by less than 11 points in the second half.
"We got off to a good start, and they were on their heels the whole game," said Artest, who continued his mission of rebounding with a game-high 10.
"And Mike was regular old Bibby tonight. It was good to see him on top again, where he's pretty much unstoppable."
Raptors superstar Chris Bosh had 10 points in the first quarter against forward Kenny Thomas, but he finished with 19 points and hit just two of his last seven shots.
The Kings held Toronto to 41.7 percent shooting (35 of 84), improving their record to 4-0 when keeping opponents under 42 percent from the field.
Game review
CHEERS
Ron Artest said it was an adjustment, this new world of rebounding, defending and shooting. He finally figured out all facets, hitting 9 of 17 shots for a season-high tying 23 points. Artest also grabbed 10 rebounds, regaining the team rebounding lead from forward Kenny Thomas. He played through bumps and bruises, twisting his ankle in the first half and jamming a finger in the second half.
JEERS
Raptors point guard T.J. Ford is widely considered the fastest player in the league, but he was too quick for his own good this time. Ford had eight turnovers on a night in which Toronto had 19 overall for 29 Kings points.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Kings coach Eric Musselman is convinced many players wouldn't play through the sort of pain Mike Bibby is dealing with, but the Kings' point guard persevered to have his finest shooting night yet (8 of 16 for 21 points), although he did have five turnovers.
KEY STAT
Kings forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim stated the obvious when he said Sunday night that last season's Kings team was no rebounding force, but the current one continued to pound the glass by winning the battle 44-35.
INJURY REPORT
From his Nov. 4 injury, Kings center Brad Miller (torn tendon, left foot) is expected to miss at least four weeks.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
Fast start sparks Kings
Shooters find their touches as century mark is surpassed
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 2:48 am PST Monday, November 13, 2006
There was a century-mark moment Sunday night at Arco Arena, but it wasn't the sort of triple-digit fun the Toronto Raptors had in mind.
The Canadian squad came to Arco Arena hoping to use its new run-and-gun style to sprint past the Kings, with a team-wide objective of hoisting 100 shots as long as their sneakers could withstand the pace. Instead, the Kings won 107-92, surpassing the 100-point mark for the first time this season, and their third consecutive victory came with an offensive discovery they had been waiting for.
A night of 48.7 percent shooting (37 of 76) was something altogether different for a team that entered with the second-worst accuracy mark in the NBA (39.9 percent). Small forward Ron Artest (23 points on 9-of-17 shooting) and point guard Mike Bibby (21 points on 8-of-16 shooting) finally hit those shots that fall every day in practice. The fact that shooting guard Kevin Martin was involved was nothing new, with the team's leading scorer turning in the sort of outing that is quickly becoming typical (26 points on 8-of-14 shooting).
Cohesion, for once, replaced chaos on the offensive end, which swingman John Salmons chalked up to a building chemistry.
"We definitely have a lot of guys who can score," said Salmons, who had a quiet outing against the team he was supposed to play for before reneging on the deal during the offseason. "I think that was part of the problem. We've got so many guys, and they were clashing. It's not that we can't get along, because tonight we showed we can."
The running Raptors were no secret to Kings coach Eric Musselman, who surely noticed coming in that they led the league in field-goal attempts per game (87.8). Point guard T.J. Ford, who came via trade from Milwaukee in the offseason, is considered by many to be the fastest player in the league. With that in mind, Musselman sounded like ESPN's Chris Berman with his pleas for transition defense, barking, "Back, back, back," when the Raptors jumped ahead early.
"I thought it was important to push the ball back at Toronto," Musselman said. "We understand they're an uptempo team ... (so) it would be to our benefit to try to score after makes or misses."
The script reversal worked, as the Kings had eight fast-break points to the Raptors' two in the first five minutes, when a Martin layup put them up 11-8. Ahead 20-18, the Kings went on a 21-7 run when Artest finally found his shot. After six games of subpar shooting, Artest hit his first six shots, including two from beyond the three-point arc that matched his season total coming in as the Kings put up 36 first-quarter points.
Midway through the second quarter, the Kings had hit 16 of their first 26 shots. Bibby hit six of his first eight as the Kings led 59-44 at halftime. The scoring had been sparked by a defense that was impressive once again, with the Kings grabbing nine steals by halftime and 12 for the game.
They had 29 points off a Raptors season-high 19 turnovers and never led by less than 11 points in the second half.
"We got off to a good start, and they were on their heels the whole game," said Artest, who continued his mission of rebounding with a game-high 10.
"And Mike was regular old Bibby tonight. It was good to see him on top again, where he's pretty much unstoppable."
Raptors superstar Chris Bosh had 10 points in the first quarter against forward Kenny Thomas, but he finished with 19 points and hit just two of his last seven shots.
The Kings held Toronto to 41.7 percent shooting (35 of 84), improving their record to 4-0 when keeping opponents under 42 percent from the field.
Game review
CHEERS
Ron Artest said it was an adjustment, this new world of rebounding, defending and shooting. He finally figured out all facets, hitting 9 of 17 shots for a season-high tying 23 points. Artest also grabbed 10 rebounds, regaining the team rebounding lead from forward Kenny Thomas. He played through bumps and bruises, twisting his ankle in the first half and jamming a finger in the second half.
JEERS
Raptors point guard T.J. Ford is widely considered the fastest player in the league, but he was too quick for his own good this time. Ford had eight turnovers on a night in which Toronto had 19 overall for 29 Kings points.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Kings coach Eric Musselman is convinced many players wouldn't play through the sort of pain Mike Bibby is dealing with, but the Kings' point guard persevered to have his finest shooting night yet (8 of 16 for 21 points), although he did have five turnovers.
KEY STAT
Kings forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim stated the obvious when he said Sunday night that last season's Kings team was no rebounding force, but the current one continued to pound the glass by winning the battle 44-35.
INJURY REPORT
From his Nov. 4 injury, Kings center Brad Miller (torn tendon, left foot) is expected to miss at least four weeks.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
