mazzystar
Bench
Kings go to the bench for this one
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/90864.html
The reserves play a big role in a blowout win over Atlanta that puts a stop to a five-game skid.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:05 am PST Monday, December 11, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]In any of the previous five games, Corliss Williamson would have fit right into the crowd.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The pained look on his face, the shaking of his head, the general look of displeasure. The cause of Williamson's grimace was a blow to the nether regions from an opponent, coming in the final moments of the Kings' 117-92 win over Atlanta on Sunday night at Arco Arena.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]It was a welcome contrast to the week before, when the Kings took so many shots below the belt of the metaphorical sort and found themselves looking so often troubled for more collective reasons as they lost five consecutive games.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]And it was, of course, just one night, and a victory that came against a subpar Hawks team that was even worse off when a calf injury to star guard Joe Johnson kept him out of action. But after losing in heartbreak fashion to San Antonio, Orlando, and Miami; and in blowout form to Dallas and Phoenix, this went beyond the "W" itself. A 31-point Kings second quarter and a season-high 39-point third quarter created a rare cushion that the Kings promptly relaxed in, allowing reserves such as Vitaly Potapenko to hit the floor and making it official that the pressure bubble had, for at least a little while, been burst.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Strangely, Kings center Brad Miller spent his pregame time envisioning the performance of a big man other than himself, that being Potapenko.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Miller said he decided the Kings not only needed a win, but one in which nearly everyone played and the tension that built up going back to last Friday was broken in a feel-good way. The bench was completely cleared, as coach Eric Musselman played his reserves a combined 93 minutes, compared to the 137 played by the starters.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Point guard Jason Hart helped spark a second-quarter run in which the Kings turned a 26-25 lead into a 39-28 edge, and scored seven points in 17 minutes. Kings swingman John Salmons and forward Corliss Williamson combined for 32 points, while Salmons had five assists and Williamson had five rebounds. The minutes were even more available because of the absence of forward Kenny Thomas, who did not play or attend the game because of the flu.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"We wanted to not only win, but to play well," Miller said.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]In his second consecutive start since returning to the starting lineup, Miller led the charge, scoring a season-high and team-high 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting. His accuracy was not exclusive, as the Kings shot a season-high 57.3 percent (43 of 75) from the field. Kings point guard Mike Bibby shot 50-plus percent for the first time since Nov. 15, hitting 5 of 10 shots for 16 points.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"It's nice to shoot over 40 percent from the field," Musselman said. "I thought, offensively, that we did a great job moving the basketball. Twenty-five assists. We went back and ran open offense and spaced the floor.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"I thought ... we probably played the two best quarters that we've played all year (in the second and third)."[/FONT]
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/90864.html
The reserves play a big role in a blowout win over Atlanta that puts a stop to a five-game skid.
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:05 am PST Monday, December 11, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]In any of the previous five games, Corliss Williamson would have fit right into the crowd.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The pained look on his face, the shaking of his head, the general look of displeasure. The cause of Williamson's grimace was a blow to the nether regions from an opponent, coming in the final moments of the Kings' 117-92 win over Atlanta on Sunday night at Arco Arena.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]It was a welcome contrast to the week before, when the Kings took so many shots below the belt of the metaphorical sort and found themselves looking so often troubled for more collective reasons as they lost five consecutive games.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]And it was, of course, just one night, and a victory that came against a subpar Hawks team that was even worse off when a calf injury to star guard Joe Johnson kept him out of action. But after losing in heartbreak fashion to San Antonio, Orlando, and Miami; and in blowout form to Dallas and Phoenix, this went beyond the "W" itself. A 31-point Kings second quarter and a season-high 39-point third quarter created a rare cushion that the Kings promptly relaxed in, allowing reserves such as Vitaly Potapenko to hit the floor and making it official that the pressure bubble had, for at least a little while, been burst.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Strangely, Kings center Brad Miller spent his pregame time envisioning the performance of a big man other than himself, that being Potapenko.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Miller said he decided the Kings not only needed a win, but one in which nearly everyone played and the tension that built up going back to last Friday was broken in a feel-good way. The bench was completely cleared, as coach Eric Musselman played his reserves a combined 93 minutes, compared to the 137 played by the starters.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Point guard Jason Hart helped spark a second-quarter run in which the Kings turned a 26-25 lead into a 39-28 edge, and scored seven points in 17 minutes. Kings swingman John Salmons and forward Corliss Williamson combined for 32 points, while Salmons had five assists and Williamson had five rebounds. The minutes were even more available because of the absence of forward Kenny Thomas, who did not play or attend the game because of the flu.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"We wanted to not only win, but to play well," Miller said.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]In his second consecutive start since returning to the starting lineup, Miller led the charge, scoring a season-high and team-high 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting. His accuracy was not exclusive, as the Kings shot a season-high 57.3 percent (43 of 75) from the field. Kings point guard Mike Bibby shot 50-plus percent for the first time since Nov. 15, hitting 5 of 10 shots for 16 points.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"It's nice to shoot over 40 percent from the field," Musselman said. "I thought, offensively, that we did a great job moving the basketball. Twenty-five assists. We went back and ran open offense and spaced the floor.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"I thought ... we probably played the two best quarters that we've played all year (in the second and third)."[/FONT]
