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Kings Notes: Artest responds to call for rebounds
By Sam Amick -
Last Updated 12:55 am PST Sunday, November 5, 2006
MILWAUKEE -- Bonzi Wells was a scoring threat, but the Kings already had those.
But when the veteran shooting guard and the Kings parted ways in the offseason, it was Wells' penchant for pounding the glass the Kings knew they'd miss more than his offense.
So just four days into training camp, first-year coach Eric Musselman looked for ways to replace the rebounding Wells had provided. He pulled small forward Ron Artest aside and simply asked him to help fill the void.
"It was one conversation, and he listened," Musselman said. "There have even been times when he said, 'Hey, let me go dive to the rim to go get off-side rebounds.' He's been real conscious of it mentally."
Artest, it should be noted, averaged just 4.8 rebounds per game through his first seven seasons. But he led the Kings in the first two games this season, grabbing 12 against Minnesota in Wednesday's season-opening loss and pulling down 13 in Friday night's win over Chicago.
Buckling down - If the first two games of the regular season were a standard-setter, Musselman indeed might have found a way to change the Kings' culture.
From July's summer league in Las Vegas to training camp and into the present, players have preached the importance of contesting, showing effort and playing smart and strong on the defensive end. Then, with their offense failing them against Minnesota and Chicago, the Kings limited their first two foes to a combined 44.6 percent shooting (67 of 150). They beat the Timberwolves 51-38 on the boards and tied the Bulls 43-43.
"I think defensively they've done a good job of playing for 48 minutes and not having any real lulls," Musselman said. "We've been hurt defensively off of our own turnovers and off transition points, but we haven't gotten hurt very much in the half court. Thus far, we've done a really good job."
And while the Kings' 89-88 win over Chicago was only one win in the 82-game season, Musselman said there was a greater significance.
"It teaches all of us that even when we're down by double digits or 15 on the road, that we can still come back and win," he said. "There's no reason to stop playing and not go 48 minutes. Anything's possible, really."
Passing King - When Mike Bibby found Kevin Martin for a layup midway through the fourth quarter against Chicago, the assist put him atop the list of passers in Sacramento-era Kings history.
It was Bibby's 2,129th assist, moving him past Mitch Richmond and making him the eighth-leading passer in Kings history.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
Kings Notes: Artest responds to call for rebounds
By Sam Amick -
Last Updated 12:55 am PST Sunday, November 5, 2006
MILWAUKEE -- Bonzi Wells was a scoring threat, but the Kings already had those.
But when the veteran shooting guard and the Kings parted ways in the offseason, it was Wells' penchant for pounding the glass the Kings knew they'd miss more than his offense.
So just four days into training camp, first-year coach Eric Musselman looked for ways to replace the rebounding Wells had provided. He pulled small forward Ron Artest aside and simply asked him to help fill the void.
"It was one conversation, and he listened," Musselman said. "There have even been times when he said, 'Hey, let me go dive to the rim to go get off-side rebounds.' He's been real conscious of it mentally."
Artest, it should be noted, averaged just 4.8 rebounds per game through his first seven seasons. But he led the Kings in the first two games this season, grabbing 12 against Minnesota in Wednesday's season-opening loss and pulling down 13 in Friday night's win over Chicago.
Buckling down - If the first two games of the regular season were a standard-setter, Musselman indeed might have found a way to change the Kings' culture.
From July's summer league in Las Vegas to training camp and into the present, players have preached the importance of contesting, showing effort and playing smart and strong on the defensive end. Then, with their offense failing them against Minnesota and Chicago, the Kings limited their first two foes to a combined 44.6 percent shooting (67 of 150). They beat the Timberwolves 51-38 on the boards and tied the Bulls 43-43.
"I think defensively they've done a good job of playing for 48 minutes and not having any real lulls," Musselman said. "We've been hurt defensively off of our own turnovers and off transition points, but we haven't gotten hurt very much in the half court. Thus far, we've done a really good job."
And while the Kings' 89-88 win over Chicago was only one win in the 82-game season, Musselman said there was a greater significance.
"It teaches all of us that even when we're down by double digits or 15 on the road, that we can still come back and win," he said. "There's no reason to stop playing and not go 48 minutes. Anything's possible, really."
Passing King - When Mike Bibby found Kevin Martin for a layup midway through the fourth quarter against Chicago, the assist put him atop the list of passers in Sacramento-era Kings history.
It was Bibby's 2,129th assist, moving him past Mitch Richmond and making him the eighth-leading passer in Kings history.
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@ sacbee.com.
