NOTE: I know this article was posted in the ongoing SAR/KT fight thread, but there's other good stuff here so I'm posting it with it's own thread for any discussion on the non-KT and SAR stuff. I like what I'm hearing about Bibby!!!
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/36497.html
Thomas, Abdur-Rahim have run-in at practice
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:33 am PDT Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Eric Musselman has insisted on nonstop activity in every drill and scrimmage this training camp.
The Kings' new coach said he has received maximum effort, including some spillover emotion Monday afternoon between two power forwards fighting -- almost literally -- for the starting job.
Kenny Thomas and Shareef Abdur-Rahim nearly traded blows at the end of a scrimmage, though cooler heads quickly prevailed. No one made much of it, offering reminders that spirited competition is common in camp.
"They've been battling it out, two guys competing," Musselman said, betraying no concern about the chest-bumping. "You coach in the CBA long enough ... that was nothing."
If it were a pay-per-view bout, the public would have howled to get its money back. The veterans have had run-ins before, including barking at each other at the end of a regular-season game last season. Both players downplayed it then.
Thomas said Monday's incident was merely "a heat-of-the-moment" thing.
"I'm very competitive, and I'm just playing hard," he said. "We're all trying to establish ourselves. It ain't nothing personal."
Abdur-Rahim was not present to comment.
Ron Artest, who admitted getting into his fair share of practice scrums over the years, said during a light moment that Monday's tussle was "weak."
"You gotta do some of that in practice every once in a while," Artest said of player dust-ups. "Otherwise, you're not going hard enough."
Bibby the stopper? -- Mike Bibby has stepped up his defense since the start of camp, and everyone is taking notice.
"He's done a really good job," Musselman said. "He's shown a willingness to pick up the ball earlier in the backcourt defensively. We want to continue to reinforce that he has the ability to do that, to remind him. He's been doing it all camp."
Reserve guard Jason Hart said Bibby looks leaner and quicker. The Kings' veteran floor leader shed 15 pounds in the offseason.
"Mike Bibby really looks good, really good," Hart said. "He looks like the high school Mike -- thin, slim, quicker. He used to be top-heavy. And he liked to look big in the chest and all."
Hart, a veteran of five NBA seasons, said bulk and power aren't the key to this sport.
"Look at Thomas," Hart said. "He's not too defined muscle-wise, but he's strong as an ox, and he's quick."
Big on Miller -- At Golden State, Musselman had a pretty fair big-man shooter in Troy Murphy. But Musselman said he believes he has a unique big-man talent with the Kings in Brad Miller.
Musselman reminds himself of that every time he sees his 7-foot center fire an assist or hit an 18-footer or a three-pointer.
"He's got guard-shooting ability and guard-passing ability," Musselman said. "He's special because of his size and shooting. Brad's passing is off the charts. I would say he's the best passing center in the NBA."
Practice what they preach -- During his two seasons coaching the Warriors, Musselman often engaged in pickup games with his coaching staff.
Now that the two-a-days are over, he's ready to round up the crew again. Normally, that would mean a lot of pulled muscles and creaky joints for veteran staffs. But the Kings' coaching unit is a youthful lot that works out in the weight room and keeps the flab at bay.
"We're all in shape," Musselman said, grinning. "We'd better be the best-conditioned staff in the league."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/36497.html
Thomas, Abdur-Rahim have run-in at practice
By Joe Davidson - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:33 am PDT Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Eric Musselman has insisted on nonstop activity in every drill and scrimmage this training camp.
The Kings' new coach said he has received maximum effort, including some spillover emotion Monday afternoon between two power forwards fighting -- almost literally -- for the starting job.
Kenny Thomas and Shareef Abdur-Rahim nearly traded blows at the end of a scrimmage, though cooler heads quickly prevailed. No one made much of it, offering reminders that spirited competition is common in camp.
"They've been battling it out, two guys competing," Musselman said, betraying no concern about the chest-bumping. "You coach in the CBA long enough ... that was nothing."
If it were a pay-per-view bout, the public would have howled to get its money back. The veterans have had run-ins before, including barking at each other at the end of a regular-season game last season. Both players downplayed it then.
Thomas said Monday's incident was merely "a heat-of-the-moment" thing.
"I'm very competitive, and I'm just playing hard," he said. "We're all trying to establish ourselves. It ain't nothing personal."
Abdur-Rahim was not present to comment.
Ron Artest, who admitted getting into his fair share of practice scrums over the years, said during a light moment that Monday's tussle was "weak."
"You gotta do some of that in practice every once in a while," Artest said of player dust-ups. "Otherwise, you're not going hard enough."
Bibby the stopper? -- Mike Bibby has stepped up his defense since the start of camp, and everyone is taking notice.
"He's done a really good job," Musselman said. "He's shown a willingness to pick up the ball earlier in the backcourt defensively. We want to continue to reinforce that he has the ability to do that, to remind him. He's been doing it all camp."
Reserve guard Jason Hart said Bibby looks leaner and quicker. The Kings' veteran floor leader shed 15 pounds in the offseason.
"Mike Bibby really looks good, really good," Hart said. "He looks like the high school Mike -- thin, slim, quicker. He used to be top-heavy. And he liked to look big in the chest and all."
Hart, a veteran of five NBA seasons, said bulk and power aren't the key to this sport.
"Look at Thomas," Hart said. "He's not too defined muscle-wise, but he's strong as an ox, and he's quick."
Big on Miller -- At Golden State, Musselman had a pretty fair big-man shooter in Troy Murphy. But Musselman said he believes he has a unique big-man talent with the Kings in Brad Miller.
Musselman reminds himself of that every time he sees his 7-foot center fire an assist or hit an 18-footer or a three-pointer.
"He's got guard-shooting ability and guard-passing ability," Musselman said. "He's special because of his size and shooting. Brad's passing is off the charts. I would say he's the best passing center in the NBA."
Practice what they preach -- During his two seasons coaching the Warriors, Musselman often engaged in pickup games with his coaching staff.
Now that the two-a-days are over, he's ready to round up the crew again. Normally, that would mean a lot of pulled muscles and creaky joints for veteran staffs. But the Kings' coaching unit is a youthful lot that works out in the weight room and keeps the flab at bay.
"We're all in shape," Musselman said, grinning. "We'd better be the best-conditioned staff in the league."
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com.
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