http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13913880p-14752241c.html
Hart has plenty of heart as Kings' jack-of-all-trades
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, November 28, 2005
Jason Hart went flying toward the New York Knicks' bench, seeking the basketball but finding the open arms of forward Malik Rose.
The enemy in blue and orange held Hart against his will while the play went the other way, with Hart squirming and twisting until he finally broke free in the Nov. 13 game at Arco Arena.
Hart knows heart. And while it couldn't be more cliché, it also couldn't be more true. The Kings' backup point guard with the perfect name plays hard, specializing on the defensive end and never leaving observers wondering about his energy.
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But being a productive second option to Mike Bibby in Sacramento isn't as easy as getting an "A" for effort. The Kings' offense is unique, with center Brad Miller serving as the nucleus recently dubbed "point-center" by shooting guard Bonzi Wells. The system is a good fit for a scoring point guard like Bibby, while at times frustrating and unfamiliar for someone used to more conventional approaches.
While Hart's numbers with the Kings will never tell the story of his value - he has hit just 35.6 percent of his shots this season in averaging 13.6 minutes, as his role changes nightly depending on everything from the opponent to flow to Bibby's play - his own defense is his one constant contribution. But by Hart's admission, the adjustment is far from done.
"This team's different," Hart said. "You've just got to fight through and pick your spots and try to fit in. If you're not hitting shots, you're pretty much just out there. It's a little bit difficult."
Much tougher, for example, than back in Charlotte. Hart will always fondly remember his one season with the Bobcats, with whom he helped usher in the history of the franchise's inaugural campaign while helping himself through the NBA door that had never opened so wide. It made Milwaukee and San Antonio and Greece and Asheville, N.C., all worth it, and made his name known around the league - 64 losses be darned.
Charlotte was the promised land, where he logged 74 games and averaged 25.5 minutes, 9.5 points and five assists per game while serving as everything from the starting point guard and shooting guard to backup at both positions.
The Kings face Hart's old squad Tuesday, hoping to reach the .500 mark for the first time this season.
"We lost a lot of games, but it was great that we all got a chance to play," Hart said. "We wanted to win, obviously, but even with those losses, we all got a little more confidence in ourselves."
Jamal Sampson saw it with his own eyes. The Kings forward who played alongside Hart in Charlotte saw a point guard with no fear, a good player on a bad team who grew with every game.
"He was definitely a lot more aggressive offensively (in Charlotte)," Sampson said. "You definitely don't see the confidence he had last year yet, but it'll come. J-Hart can do a lot. It just comes with confidence."
Hart had plenty of it at Syracuse, where he was a four-year starter who led the Orangemen to the NCAA Tournament three times and became the school's all-time steals leader. He was picked 49th overall by Milwaukee in 2000, then promptly was placed on the injured list while Sam Cassell, Lindsey Hunter and Ray Allen took all of the minutes at both guard spots. He floated from there, with two seasons in San Antonio behind Tony Parker serving as the bookends to his time in Asheville, N.C., and Greece, where the NBA Development League and the Makedonikos team, respectively, offered plenty of playing time but little promise.
Ultimately in Charlotte, nine-year veteran Brevin Knight was given the point job. When the Bobcats used their No. 5 pick to draft Raymond Felton out of North Carolina, Hart became expendable.
Then came the trade that placed former King Bobby Jackson in Memphis and brought Wells to Sacramento in July, followed by the Kings making the move to bring Hart in exchange for a future second-round draft choice. His contract goes through next year, paying $1.6 million this season.
The Kings offer a chance to show Hart's versatility. Assistant coach Elston Turner said the coaching staff is thrilled with his defense, but would like to see Hart improve his spacing and reads on offense.
"It's tough when you're playing backup minutes on a short time limit," said Turner, who had plenty of backup roles in playing guard for three NBA franchises from 1981 to 1989. "You come in and miss two shots, and that might be all you get for the night.
"We're happy with what he's doing, but he has to understand that you're not going to have a long rope out there and to not get frustrated."
Hart said he understands.
"I'm not trying to force anything, because you miss a couple and then you come out of the game, so I take the best (shots) that come to me," Hart said. "It's a new team, a new system, so you've just got to roll with the punches and play hard."
That much he can do.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
Hart has plenty of heart as Kings' jack-of-all-trades
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, November 28, 2005
Jason Hart went flying toward the New York Knicks' bench, seeking the basketball but finding the open arms of forward Malik Rose.
The enemy in blue and orange held Hart against his will while the play went the other way, with Hart squirming and twisting until he finally broke free in the Nov. 13 game at Arco Arena.
Hart knows heart. And while it couldn't be more cliché, it also couldn't be more true. The Kings' backup point guard with the perfect name plays hard, specializing on the defensive end and never leaving observers wondering about his energy.
· View success stories
· Get your free personality profile ($40.00 value)
· Find compatible local singles
· View Q&A
· Learn more
But being a productive second option to Mike Bibby in Sacramento isn't as easy as getting an "A" for effort. The Kings' offense is unique, with center Brad Miller serving as the nucleus recently dubbed "point-center" by shooting guard Bonzi Wells. The system is a good fit for a scoring point guard like Bibby, while at times frustrating and unfamiliar for someone used to more conventional approaches.
While Hart's numbers with the Kings will never tell the story of his value - he has hit just 35.6 percent of his shots this season in averaging 13.6 minutes, as his role changes nightly depending on everything from the opponent to flow to Bibby's play - his own defense is his one constant contribution. But by Hart's admission, the adjustment is far from done.
"This team's different," Hart said. "You've just got to fight through and pick your spots and try to fit in. If you're not hitting shots, you're pretty much just out there. It's a little bit difficult."
Much tougher, for example, than back in Charlotte. Hart will always fondly remember his one season with the Bobcats, with whom he helped usher in the history of the franchise's inaugural campaign while helping himself through the NBA door that had never opened so wide. It made Milwaukee and San Antonio and Greece and Asheville, N.C., all worth it, and made his name known around the league - 64 losses be darned.
Charlotte was the promised land, where he logged 74 games and averaged 25.5 minutes, 9.5 points and five assists per game while serving as everything from the starting point guard and shooting guard to backup at both positions.
The Kings face Hart's old squad Tuesday, hoping to reach the .500 mark for the first time this season.
"We lost a lot of games, but it was great that we all got a chance to play," Hart said. "We wanted to win, obviously, but even with those losses, we all got a little more confidence in ourselves."
Jamal Sampson saw it with his own eyes. The Kings forward who played alongside Hart in Charlotte saw a point guard with no fear, a good player on a bad team who grew with every game.
"He was definitely a lot more aggressive offensively (in Charlotte)," Sampson said. "You definitely don't see the confidence he had last year yet, but it'll come. J-Hart can do a lot. It just comes with confidence."
Hart had plenty of it at Syracuse, where he was a four-year starter who led the Orangemen to the NCAA Tournament three times and became the school's all-time steals leader. He was picked 49th overall by Milwaukee in 2000, then promptly was placed on the injured list while Sam Cassell, Lindsey Hunter and Ray Allen took all of the minutes at both guard spots. He floated from there, with two seasons in San Antonio behind Tony Parker serving as the bookends to his time in Asheville, N.C., and Greece, where the NBA Development League and the Makedonikos team, respectively, offered plenty of playing time but little promise.
Ultimately in Charlotte, nine-year veteran Brevin Knight was given the point job. When the Bobcats used their No. 5 pick to draft Raymond Felton out of North Carolina, Hart became expendable.
Then came the trade that placed former King Bobby Jackson in Memphis and brought Wells to Sacramento in July, followed by the Kings making the move to bring Hart in exchange for a future second-round draft choice. His contract goes through next year, paying $1.6 million this season.
The Kings offer a chance to show Hart's versatility. Assistant coach Elston Turner said the coaching staff is thrilled with his defense, but would like to see Hart improve his spacing and reads on offense.
"It's tough when you're playing backup minutes on a short time limit," said Turner, who had plenty of backup roles in playing guard for three NBA franchises from 1981 to 1989. "You come in and miss two shots, and that might be all you get for the night.
"We're happy with what he's doing, but he has to understand that you're not going to have a long rope out there and to not get frustrated."
Hart said he understands.
"I'm not trying to force anything, because you miss a couple and then you come out of the game, so I take the best (shots) that come to me," Hart said. "It's a new team, a new system, so you've just got to roll with the punches and play hard."
That much he can do.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.
