http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/84663.html
It takes a big man to get offense going
Miller hits big three-pointer on his comeback trail
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
The official comeback had come two days before.
Kings center Brad Miller played for the first time in nine games, providing a quiet 15 minutes in an uneventful return to action from the torn tendon in his left foot.
But in matters of spirit and the emotion that so often drives the big man's game, Miller didn't truly come back until Tuesday night against the Clippers at Arco Arena.
With 6:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, he buried a three-pointer and followed it with a fist pump. Then there was a mild chest bump with Kings point guard Mike Bibby, and a smug smirk all the way back to the Kings' bench as a rattled Clippers squad called timeout.
Miller's shot provided the first cushion of the evening for either team, a seven-point Kings lead that was never lost as they extended a streak of dominance over the Clippers to 14 consecutive games and 17 in a row at Arco Arena in a 93-80 win.
More important for the Kings, it was a third consecutive win for this season that was timely in light of what lies ahead. After playing eight of their last 10 games at home, the Kings travel to Texas for the two-step at Dallas and San Antonio this weekend.
Thus, the three-game losing streak that preceded the latest run has been balanced, and the Kings did it with a formula that was flashed for the first time as they improved to 8-5.
"It's the first month of us being together, (and) eight wins in a month is a good month," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "We know we have a very tough schedule coming up ... so we understand that we have a stretch here where we have some very difficult games."
For three quarters, this was one of them. But after former Kings shooting guard Cuttino Mobley drained a three-pointer with 8:50 remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 76, the Clippers went cold, hitting just one field goal for the remainder of play as the Kings pulled away.
For the Kings, the defense wasn't the plot twist, although this was denying on a different level.
The Clippers -- playing without center Chris Kaman or point guard Sam Cassell because of injuries -- shot an NBA season-low 30.6 percent (30 of 98), including missing 18 of their last 19 shots in a fourth quarter the Kings won 23-13.
Clippers guard Tim Thomas was among the culprits, missing 14 of 18 attempts and shooting only slightly better than the combined 2 for 25 from Quinton Ross, Aaron Williams, James Singleton and Corey Maggette.
Kings point guard Mike Bibby had 19 points, a season-high tying 10 assists and seven rebounds, while Miller finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists in playing 27 minutes off the bench.
But the new part was Ron Artest being on target, as the Kings small forward hit 11 of 23 shots and 3 of 5 three-pointers for a season-high 28 points on a night when it was needed more than most.
"I looked up and he had 20 points, and it wasn't one of those (nights) where it was like he was trying to get 20 (points)," said forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who started at center and had nine points and just two rebounds.
The necessity for Artest came because of a rare off night for third-year Kings shooting guard Kevin Martin, whose stretch of eight consecutive 20-points-plus nights ended ugly. Martin struggled enough that Musselman sent him to the bench for much of the night. Martin finished 1 of 8 from the field with a team-high three turnovers in 23 minutes. After going 0 for 4 in the first half, Martin played just nine second-half minutes.
"I ain't going to lie," Martin said. "I'm a competitor, so of course I wanted to be out there. I'm in my third year, and I thought I should have been able to play through that. But (Musselman) talked to me afterwards, and we're fine."
Miller, it appears, can say the same.
"His passing was there and his shot was there," Artest said of Miller. "Once he gets that rhythm, we'll be exciting to watch."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
It takes a big man to get offense going
Miller hits big three-pointer on his comeback trail
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PST Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
The official comeback had come two days before.
Kings center Brad Miller played for the first time in nine games, providing a quiet 15 minutes in an uneventful return to action from the torn tendon in his left foot.
But in matters of spirit and the emotion that so often drives the big man's game, Miller didn't truly come back until Tuesday night against the Clippers at Arco Arena.
With 6:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, he buried a three-pointer and followed it with a fist pump. Then there was a mild chest bump with Kings point guard Mike Bibby, and a smug smirk all the way back to the Kings' bench as a rattled Clippers squad called timeout.
Miller's shot provided the first cushion of the evening for either team, a seven-point Kings lead that was never lost as they extended a streak of dominance over the Clippers to 14 consecutive games and 17 in a row at Arco Arena in a 93-80 win.
More important for the Kings, it was a third consecutive win for this season that was timely in light of what lies ahead. After playing eight of their last 10 games at home, the Kings travel to Texas for the two-step at Dallas and San Antonio this weekend.
Thus, the three-game losing streak that preceded the latest run has been balanced, and the Kings did it with a formula that was flashed for the first time as they improved to 8-5.
"It's the first month of us being together, (and) eight wins in a month is a good month," Kings coach Eric Musselman said. "We know we have a very tough schedule coming up ... so we understand that we have a stretch here where we have some very difficult games."
For three quarters, this was one of them. But after former Kings shooting guard Cuttino Mobley drained a three-pointer with 8:50 remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 76, the Clippers went cold, hitting just one field goal for the remainder of play as the Kings pulled away.
For the Kings, the defense wasn't the plot twist, although this was denying on a different level.
The Clippers -- playing without center Chris Kaman or point guard Sam Cassell because of injuries -- shot an NBA season-low 30.6 percent (30 of 98), including missing 18 of their last 19 shots in a fourth quarter the Kings won 23-13.
Clippers guard Tim Thomas was among the culprits, missing 14 of 18 attempts and shooting only slightly better than the combined 2 for 25 from Quinton Ross, Aaron Williams, James Singleton and Corey Maggette.
Kings point guard Mike Bibby had 19 points, a season-high tying 10 assists and seven rebounds, while Miller finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists in playing 27 minutes off the bench.
But the new part was Ron Artest being on target, as the Kings small forward hit 11 of 23 shots and 3 of 5 three-pointers for a season-high 28 points on a night when it was needed more than most.
"I looked up and he had 20 points, and it wasn't one of those (nights) where it was like he was trying to get 20 (points)," said forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who started at center and had nine points and just two rebounds.
The necessity for Artest came because of a rare off night for third-year Kings shooting guard Kevin Martin, whose stretch of eight consecutive 20-points-plus nights ended ugly. Martin struggled enough that Musselman sent him to the bench for much of the night. Martin finished 1 of 8 from the field with a team-high three turnovers in 23 minutes. After going 0 for 4 in the first half, Martin played just nine second-half minutes.
"I ain't going to lie," Martin said. "I'm a competitor, so of course I wanted to be out there. I'm in my third year, and I thought I should have been able to play through that. But (Musselman) talked to me afterwards, and we're fine."
Miller, it appears, can say the same.
"His passing was there and his shot was there," Artest said of Miller. "Once he gets that rhythm, we'll be exciting to watch."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
