http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/151474.html
Kings' future looks as unsure as present
Eric Musselman's job security will be but one issue facing the team's hierarchy.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, April 8, 2007
The youth movement was on the move -- running routes, perfecting cuts, burying runners and hitting spot-up jumpers from the outer rim.
There were Francisco García and Ronnie Price and Quincy Douby, all members of the Kings' young core and all working overtime with assistant coach Scott Brooks on Saturday afternoon at the team's practice facility.
They worked up a sweat as if it were October, as if playoff promise and expectation were still part of the equation.
But as the Kings host Houston tonight at Arco Arena, they are on the brink of mathematical elimination and on the edge of uncertainty again. The buzz that surrounded a new era with a new coach and new defensive approach are gone, replaced with the reality that they'll be out of the postseason for the first time since 1998 and the distinct possibility that more change is coming.
Coach Eric Musselman's job might be in jeopardy after the first season of a three-year contract that will pay him more than $7 million whether or not he's on the Kings' sideline. Yet this situation could have been avoided with more outings such as the one Friday night, when the Kings upset Utah in one of the few as-advertised performances of an otherwise underachieving season.
Musselman benched more prominent players while the likes of Price and rookie big man Justin Williams flourished in their newfound playing time. The Kings displayed the aggressive style and frenetic pace Musselman had pitched to land the job, not only holding a late fourth-quarter lead but winning a game in which they trailed after three quarters for just the sixth time in 39 tries.
The victory was not a factor in terms of the standings, yet it is unclear whether the remaining seven games will play much of a factor in Musselman's future. Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie and co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof are expected to meet soon to discuss the team's future on all fronts. Petrie has spent much time on the road recently, scouting for the June draft, while the Maloofs have been tending to other business affairs in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Asked before Friday's game if he thought he was fighting for his job in these remaining games, Musselman declined comment. One day later, he was honed in on the immediate and pleased that the team that had lost 12 of 14 games entering Friday had found extra fight in its younger players.
"They gave us a double dose of energy, went above even their normal (level)," Musselman said of Price and Williams. "They started playing with more and more confidence the more minutes they have. That's what happens. ... They feel and look like they belong, which is hard for guys who haven't been given an opportunity to do it other than in a short time frame."
García was among those making the most of his time, scoring 11 points on 5-for-5 shooting in 18 minutes. But like every other player, the second-year swingman wanted more, showing his frustration when he was pulled late in the game.
Musselman's ability to best use his personnel surely will be one of the factors when he's evaluated by the team's brain trust, making García just a small part of the bigger equation.
García's numbers have dropped in nearly every category since his rookie campaign, from minutes to points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. His field-goal, three-point and free-throw percentages all went up, no surprise considering he is known to have a solid work ethic. The signing of swingman John Salmons and emergence of shooting guard Kevin Martin were the obvious barricades to García's development, though he said an undefined role early didn't help matters.
"It was, What's my role? What does he want me to do out there?" García said. "It was a little confusing when I was out there in the beginning. You can see that. Everybody can see that. I didn't know what to do. Do I stay in the corner, do I cut?"
No one was less surprised to see the youngsters helping the Kings' cause than Ron Artest, who has long been an advocate of García's and said he likes Price's game as well.
"That's not new, what they did (Friday night)," the small forward said. "Ronnie's been playing like that since last year. ... 'Cisco gives me problems in practice sometimes. I know when he's out there that there's not many people who can guard him because he gives me problems."
Big victory aside, the Kings still have no shortage of their own problems. What they choose to do about them is another matter.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
Kings' future looks as unsure as present
Eric Musselman's job security will be but one issue facing the team's hierarchy.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, April 8, 2007
The youth movement was on the move -- running routes, perfecting cuts, burying runners and hitting spot-up jumpers from the outer rim.
There were Francisco García and Ronnie Price and Quincy Douby, all members of the Kings' young core and all working overtime with assistant coach Scott Brooks on Saturday afternoon at the team's practice facility.
They worked up a sweat as if it were October, as if playoff promise and expectation were still part of the equation.
But as the Kings host Houston tonight at Arco Arena, they are on the brink of mathematical elimination and on the edge of uncertainty again. The buzz that surrounded a new era with a new coach and new defensive approach are gone, replaced with the reality that they'll be out of the postseason for the first time since 1998 and the distinct possibility that more change is coming.
Coach Eric Musselman's job might be in jeopardy after the first season of a three-year contract that will pay him more than $7 million whether or not he's on the Kings' sideline. Yet this situation could have been avoided with more outings such as the one Friday night, when the Kings upset Utah in one of the few as-advertised performances of an otherwise underachieving season.
Musselman benched more prominent players while the likes of Price and rookie big man Justin Williams flourished in their newfound playing time. The Kings displayed the aggressive style and frenetic pace Musselman had pitched to land the job, not only holding a late fourth-quarter lead but winning a game in which they trailed after three quarters for just the sixth time in 39 tries.
The victory was not a factor in terms of the standings, yet it is unclear whether the remaining seven games will play much of a factor in Musselman's future. Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie and co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof are expected to meet soon to discuss the team's future on all fronts. Petrie has spent much time on the road recently, scouting for the June draft, while the Maloofs have been tending to other business affairs in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Asked before Friday's game if he thought he was fighting for his job in these remaining games, Musselman declined comment. One day later, he was honed in on the immediate and pleased that the team that had lost 12 of 14 games entering Friday had found extra fight in its younger players.
"They gave us a double dose of energy, went above even their normal (level)," Musselman said of Price and Williams. "They started playing with more and more confidence the more minutes they have. That's what happens. ... They feel and look like they belong, which is hard for guys who haven't been given an opportunity to do it other than in a short time frame."
García was among those making the most of his time, scoring 11 points on 5-for-5 shooting in 18 minutes. But like every other player, the second-year swingman wanted more, showing his frustration when he was pulled late in the game.
Musselman's ability to best use his personnel surely will be one of the factors when he's evaluated by the team's brain trust, making García just a small part of the bigger equation.
García's numbers have dropped in nearly every category since his rookie campaign, from minutes to points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. His field-goal, three-point and free-throw percentages all went up, no surprise considering he is known to have a solid work ethic. The signing of swingman John Salmons and emergence of shooting guard Kevin Martin were the obvious barricades to García's development, though he said an undefined role early didn't help matters.
"It was, What's my role? What does he want me to do out there?" García said. "It was a little confusing when I was out there in the beginning. You can see that. Everybody can see that. I didn't know what to do. Do I stay in the corner, do I cut?"
No one was less surprised to see the youngsters helping the Kings' cause than Ron Artest, who has long been an advocate of García's and said he likes Price's game as well.
"That's not new, what they did (Friday night)," the small forward said. "Ronnie's been playing like that since last year. ... 'Cisco gives me problems in practice sometimes. I know when he's out there that there's not many people who can guard him because he gives me problems."
Big victory aside, the Kings still have no shortage of their own problems. What they choose to do about them is another matter.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
