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It's time for a timeout
Artest, Bibby try to help stop this skid -- together
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:06 am PST Thursday, December 14, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
Print | E-Mail | Comments (17)
Kings forward Ron Artest, left, and guard Mike Bibby are working toward a common goal, and they insist there is no friction between them. Sacramento Bee/Randy Pench
The expressions and body language of Mike Bibby and Ron Artest speak volumes, even though the players keep their comments guarded.
Mounting frustration continues to build as the Kings try to avoid a tailspin after losing six of seven games and are about to embark on a mean streak of games.
Bibby, the Kings' floor leader, wonders about his shooting slump and his role in the offense.
He's also not so certain that he won't be traded, the notion that last-place teams mean things just aren't working.
Artest, the bruising stopper, wonders if he must guard more than one foe.
He said that following a crushing loss at Golden State on Tuesday, though the forward said after practice Wednesday that he was merely joking.
But Artest was serious when he said that the crux of the Kings' woes is simple.
"We are definitely not playing hard enough, including myself," he said. "Guys are just beating us, going right by us. We have to make stops. Give it your all."
Neither player is ready to panic or give up trying to work with the other. Both dispelled any notion that they cannot coexist. In fact, it's common for them to sit next to each other during timeouts, each giving a pound to the other and advice.
Bibby and Artest said the pieces are still there to turn the season around, to at least compete with league-leading Utah on Friday, red-hot Phoenix on Saturday and equally formidable Dallas on Monday.
Meanwhile, the rest of the roster is looking toward Bibby and Artest to lead the way.
"They are good together," guard Kevin Martin said. "They both have to be leaders right now and get this team through this."
Said Bibby: "There's some frustration. We've got to pick up our attitudes, our play. Everything went so well in the preseason. We were sharing the ball, spacing, helping on defense. But it stopped."
Why?
"I have no idea," Bibby said. "We haven't moved the ball. We haven't been helping on defense. We're not playing together on either end of the court."
Kings coach Eric Musselman said the players would continue to work together and that he would continue to tinker and fine-tune.
Might that include more Artest in the post?
Artest has spent some time there in the past week and is eager for more.
"Nobody can stop me down there," Artest said. "I have always been a force in the post. But it's a team game. 'Muss' is trying to figure everything out, what he has. Once he does, we may see adjustments. I don't know. But I'm not a 4 (a power forward)."
And although Artest is frustrated in his current role on offense, he tries to remain focused.
"I'm one of the most dominant players in the league," he said. "But it's my job to stay within the team concept, and that's hard to do when you're losing. I've been an outcast for so long, I want to fit in. I don't want to take it upon myself. I leave that to the coach."
Said Musselman: "He's been effective in the post. (Against Golden State) we did that to start the game with Ron, and that's why Golden State had to go to the zone. They went to the zone, and we couldn't knock down threes."
Bibby, who was 4 for 12 from three-point range Tuesday, insists that his wrist and thumb injuries are in the past.
He's shooting a career-low 36 percent from the floor and a career-low 27 percent from three-point range.
Does he want to try something different with the offense? Run more? Post up more?
"I have to follow directions," he said. "It's not my choice."
Bibby said he and Musselman are fine, and the coach said this week that he and Bibby are "joined at the hip."
Still, Bibby wonders if the trade winds really have settled.
"It's probably not the end of the trade talks all the way around," he said. "Loyalty is big, important. But that's the way this business is. Here one day, gone the next. It's not up to me. I don't make trades."
Artest said Bibby is a vital key.
"I'm looking forward to the day when Mike catches fire, gets in that zone that we've seen," he said. "He's the best shooting point guard in the league. He's in a slump, but he's had a great career. We'll get it going again. I know we will."
Artest, Bibby try to help stop this skid -- together
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:06 am PST Thursday, December 14, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
Print | E-Mail | Comments (17)
The expressions and body language of Mike Bibby and Ron Artest speak volumes, even though the players keep their comments guarded.
Mounting frustration continues to build as the Kings try to avoid a tailspin after losing six of seven games and are about to embark on a mean streak of games.
Bibby, the Kings' floor leader, wonders about his shooting slump and his role in the offense.
He's also not so certain that he won't be traded, the notion that last-place teams mean things just aren't working.
Artest, the bruising stopper, wonders if he must guard more than one foe.
He said that following a crushing loss at Golden State on Tuesday, though the forward said after practice Wednesday that he was merely joking.
But Artest was serious when he said that the crux of the Kings' woes is simple.
"We are definitely not playing hard enough, including myself," he said. "Guys are just beating us, going right by us. We have to make stops. Give it your all."
Neither player is ready to panic or give up trying to work with the other. Both dispelled any notion that they cannot coexist. In fact, it's common for them to sit next to each other during timeouts, each giving a pound to the other and advice.
Bibby and Artest said the pieces are still there to turn the season around, to at least compete with league-leading Utah on Friday, red-hot Phoenix on Saturday and equally formidable Dallas on Monday.
Meanwhile, the rest of the roster is looking toward Bibby and Artest to lead the way.
"They are good together," guard Kevin Martin said. "They both have to be leaders right now and get this team through this."
Said Bibby: "There's some frustration. We've got to pick up our attitudes, our play. Everything went so well in the preseason. We were sharing the ball, spacing, helping on defense. But it stopped."
Why?
"I have no idea," Bibby said. "We haven't moved the ball. We haven't been helping on defense. We're not playing together on either end of the court."
Kings coach Eric Musselman said the players would continue to work together and that he would continue to tinker and fine-tune.
Might that include more Artest in the post?
Artest has spent some time there in the past week and is eager for more.
"Nobody can stop me down there," Artest said. "I have always been a force in the post. But it's a team game. 'Muss' is trying to figure everything out, what he has. Once he does, we may see adjustments. I don't know. But I'm not a 4 (a power forward)."
And although Artest is frustrated in his current role on offense, he tries to remain focused.
"I'm one of the most dominant players in the league," he said. "But it's my job to stay within the team concept, and that's hard to do when you're losing. I've been an outcast for so long, I want to fit in. I don't want to take it upon myself. I leave that to the coach."
Said Musselman: "He's been effective in the post. (Against Golden State) we did that to start the game with Ron, and that's why Golden State had to go to the zone. They went to the zone, and we couldn't knock down threes."
Bibby, who was 4 for 12 from three-point range Tuesday, insists that his wrist and thumb injuries are in the past.
He's shooting a career-low 36 percent from the floor and a career-low 27 percent from three-point range.
Does he want to try something different with the offense? Run more? Post up more?
"I have to follow directions," he said. "It's not my choice."
Bibby said he and Musselman are fine, and the coach said this week that he and Bibby are "joined at the hip."
Still, Bibby wonders if the trade winds really have settled.
"It's probably not the end of the trade talks all the way around," he said. "Loyalty is big, important. But that's the way this business is. Here one day, gone the next. It's not up to me. I don't make trades."
Artest said Bibby is a vital key.
"I'm looking forward to the day when Mike catches fire, gets in that zone that we've seen," he said. "He's the best shooting point guard in the league. He's in a slump, but he's had a great career. We'll get it going again. I know we will."
About the writer:
- The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
