http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/37410.html
Kings are (power) forward-looking at practice
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:28 am PDT Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Eric Musselman reported that his starting unit had a "phenomenal practice" Tuesday.
And that's "starting unit," as in whom the Kings' coach will wheel out in the exhibition opener Thursday in Dallas. Subject to change, that is.
For starters, Musselman will start Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin in the backcourt, Ron Artest at small forward and Brad Miller at center. The debate is who gets the nod at power forward. Will it be Kenny Thomas? He was part of that starting group Tuesday, and he got the starting nod in the second half of last season.
Or will it be Shareef Abdur-Rahim? He was the team's starter last season until getting decked in late December by an inadvertent elbow from Zach Randolph of the Portland Trail Blazers. Abdur-Rahim missed 10 games with a broken jaw and never regained his job.
Musselman said he also rotated in Abdur-Rahim and John Salmons in place of Thomas and Martin in Tuesday's scrimmage so they could get some run with the core starters.
The coach said he will consult his staff about the position.
"Every decision I make, I weigh in with the staff," he said. "Everyone's involved."
Reef-Thomas residue -- Musselman said there was no residue between his power forwards after they nearly fought late in Monday's practice.
"It really was no big deal to the people who participate in professional sports that (there are heated moments)," Musselman said. "It happens on the football field. It happens in spring training in baseball. It was nothing more than two guys going at each other hard. It didn't escalate into anything the team needs to get involved in because it wasn't a big deal."
Musselman spoke to both players after practice Monday.
Said Abdur-Rahim on Tuesday: "We were just playing. Those things happen all the time in practices."
Taylor on the mend -- Musselman said the tender hamstring that sidelined Francisco García for Sunday's full scrimmage at Fandemonium at Arco Arena will not sideline him against Dallas.
Maurice Taylor, however, won't play. The power forward-center has a sore calf.
"Mo's been in and out," Musselman said. "We need to tell him to stay out of scrimmages so we can get him back healthy. He's anxious. He wants to get out there. He wants to perform for the coaches and to play with his teammates."
Tiger tales -- Taylor, a Michigan product with a soft spot for the Detroit Tigers, rented a suite for Tuesday's A's-Tigers game. Miller, a Cubs man at heart but a fan in general, helped pay for a limo bus to haul a half-dozen players to the event.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@ sacbee.com.
Kings are (power) forward-looking at practice
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:28 am PDT Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Eric Musselman reported that his starting unit had a "phenomenal practice" Tuesday.
And that's "starting unit," as in whom the Kings' coach will wheel out in the exhibition opener Thursday in Dallas. Subject to change, that is.
For starters, Musselman will start Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin in the backcourt, Ron Artest at small forward and Brad Miller at center. The debate is who gets the nod at power forward. Will it be Kenny Thomas? He was part of that starting group Tuesday, and he got the starting nod in the second half of last season.
Or will it be Shareef Abdur-Rahim? He was the team's starter last season until getting decked in late December by an inadvertent elbow from Zach Randolph of the Portland Trail Blazers. Abdur-Rahim missed 10 games with a broken jaw and never regained his job.
Musselman said he also rotated in Abdur-Rahim and John Salmons in place of Thomas and Martin in Tuesday's scrimmage so they could get some run with the core starters.
The coach said he will consult his staff about the position.
"Every decision I make, I weigh in with the staff," he said. "Everyone's involved."
Reef-Thomas residue -- Musselman said there was no residue between his power forwards after they nearly fought late in Monday's practice.
"It really was no big deal to the people who participate in professional sports that (there are heated moments)," Musselman said. "It happens on the football field. It happens in spring training in baseball. It was nothing more than two guys going at each other hard. It didn't escalate into anything the team needs to get involved in because it wasn't a big deal."
Musselman spoke to both players after practice Monday.
Said Abdur-Rahim on Tuesday: "We were just playing. Those things happen all the time in practices."
Taylor on the mend -- Musselman said the tender hamstring that sidelined Francisco García for Sunday's full scrimmage at Fandemonium at Arco Arena will not sideline him against Dallas.
Maurice Taylor, however, won't play. The power forward-center has a sore calf.
"Mo's been in and out," Musselman said. "We need to tell him to stay out of scrimmages so we can get him back healthy. He's anxious. He wants to get out there. He wants to perform for the coaches and to play with his teammates."
Tiger tales -- Taylor, a Michigan product with a soft spot for the Detroit Tigers, rented a suite for Tuesday's A's-Tigers game. Miller, a Cubs man at heart but a fan in general, helped pay for a limo bus to haul a half-dozen players to the event.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@ sacbee.com.
