Bee: Kings buzz (10/26/05)

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http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13770515p-14612623c.html

Agony of the foot

Mike Bibby left practice early Tuesday for an MRI on his sore foot, though no one seemed overly concerned.

If he's too sore to play tonight - or is limited - against the Phoenix Suns in Albuquerque, N.M., and Jason Hart still tender from a hip pointer, there could be 30-plus minutes for rookie Ronnie Price.

Roster cuts

And now they're down to 14, with one more to come. The Kings trimmed the roster after releasing guard Luis Flores and forward Eric Sandrin. Flores played briefly for Golden State and Denver last season, and Sandrin had professional stints overseas and with the Harlem Globetrotters after excelling at Seattle Pacific.

"These are always tough cuts," Kings coach Rick Adelman said. "Luis played well, and Eric worked really hard. Hopefully, those guys won't give up. They both have a chance (to make the NBA). It's a numbers game."

Adelman said the next cut could come as soon as Thursday, with another difficult choice. Do the Kings go with the experience of 6-foot-11 forward Jamal Sampson, who has been in the league since 2002-03, or do they go with Luke Schenscher, a 7-2 rookie with more upside than immediate impact?



Locking in

The Kings are 3-3 in the preseason, with Adelman looking for one thing in the final two warmups. "I want to see us play consistently on both ends of the court," he said. "I really do. We've been up and down."



Call it both ways

It's rare for NBA camps to have referees, but some of the top college and high school referees from the region have worked every Kings scrimmage, including veterans Tony Padilla, Mike Price and Mark Fulton and up-and-comer Maurice Brazelton, who knows his way around the place as an Arco Arena event coordinator.

Kings vs. Suns in Albuquerque, tonight

What to expect from the Kings: Keep an eye on the health of Bibby and Hart and if the speedy Price can keep pace with a man known to push the tempo a bit in Steve Nash. Kurt Thomas against any number of the Kings' big guys will result in some bruises, to be sure. What to expect from the Suns: More of Nash, who was on his MVP game against the Kings on Sunday. And does Shawn Marion challenge Brian Skinner at the rim again, with Skinner emphatically winning the last challenge in Fresno?



Key dates

Friday: Vs. Lakers in Las Vegas - Don't think Francisco García doesn't want a chance to guard Kobe Bryant? Monday: Official cut day before the regular season begins.

Nov. 1: At New Orleans/Oklahoma City in Oklahoma City - Kings take on displaced Hornets and are expected to roll.
 
1140 this morning said Bibby's MRI was negative.

Also had an RA quote saying both Bibby and Peja need to play better.
 
I wouldn't play Bibby or Hart tonight. Give them a bit more time to recover and give Price a lot of minutes and have Garcia back him up at point when Price is having a bit of a rest.

There is no reason why Price couldn't play 40 minutes tonight.
 
LA King Fan II said:
Did I read Garcia guarding Kobe? That would be very ugly.

haha idn why but i just started to laugh when i read it...but yea...who is gonna guard kobe?

btw on the audio part on the sacbee theres a clip thats titled "oct. 19: Mike Bibby says his minutes are an issure." anyone know anything about that?
i cant listen b/c my apple doesnt support the player..
 
If that audio report is fact....

I've thought that Bibby's minutes were going to be an issue ever since they acquired a defensive player in Hart and even Price. We've had great moments and games with him over the years, but I think they'll be times when the Kings are better on the floor when he is sitting.

If Bibby has a foot problem, and slows even a little it's going to be a real mess. No place to hide out top, getting torched by quick guys. There were times when he couldn't keep up with Ritenour and Dickau last year. IMHO if one of his "steps" turns up lost in the next couple of weeks, he'll be sitting and they'll be conflict.
 
I think he sit him for the 2 final games. We want to start with a "Healthy as can be" starting five. Straings, pulls, whatever you want to call it, can be nagging and not go away unless there is prolonged rest. Prolonged rest is what Bibby so going to exactly NOT get once the seat starts. Let him sit till Nov. 1st.
 
Francisco should NOT be guarding Kobe for any length of time.

Of course, it's not like the Kings have anyone who can guard Kobe. Christie and Mobley couldn't stop Bryant but at least they pestered him. In particular Cuttino always seemed to do a decent job when matched up with Kobe. Bryant is going to get 25-30 points, but the goal needs to be to make him work hard for them.

With the current Kings it is going to take solid team defense to slow him at all. Bonzi can't guard him on the perimeter and Martin (though he has the foot speed to stay in front of him) will get dominated if Bryant posts him up.
 
Čarolija said:
Garcia back him up at point when Price is having a bit of a rest.
Would love to see Garcia run the point tonight. I still think, at least early on in the season, Garcia is a better fit handling the ball as an OG, rather than a SF like Pippen and G.Hill did/does.
 
I would rather our regular starters play tonight. There are just 2 games until the regular season. I want to to play together as much as possible. Normally, I would say to let them just rest but we have new starters. Playing time together is important.

Also, I was mislead about the "Bibby says his minutes are an issue" as well. No big deal. I was worried until I listened.
 
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