http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13752407p-14594118c.html
By Joe Davidson
Mike Bibby dismisses it as a preseason funk. He's missing shots.
"Brad (Miller) says I never make shots in the preseason anyway, so I'm not worried about it," said Bibby, the Kings' normally sharp-shooting guard. "I'm shooting to make them; they're just not going in. I'll get there. I'm still trying to get into that midseason shape."
Bibby has made 12 of 35 attempts through four preseason games, but a marksman as good as Bibby had hoped to be more on line by now. He missed 8 of 9 shots against Denver in 27 minutes Tuesday. Late in the third period, Bibby finally scored - on a free throw - and the Arco Arena crowd roared as if to let him know they had his back.
"I was nervous walking up to the line, and (the crowd) broke the ice a little," Bibby said. "I could be more aggressive, and that's probably part of why I'm not shooting better."
Said Kings coach Rick Adelman: "We'll find out (if he's on his game). Guys in training camp and exhibition seasons sometimes don't go as hard as they probably should. I talked to Mike. He's got to be the guy to lead us out on the floor. We'll find out when the games are for real where he is. He's usually ready. He's a gamer. Always has been."
Skinner inside out - Brian Skinner has been effective scoring inside on putbacks and dunks, and the reserve center has shown he can pop the short jumper.
He's had games of six, seven, 10 and seven points, hardly Shaq-like, but not bad for a defensive guy.
"I work a lot on my offensive game," Skinner said. "I'm not one to score 25 or 30 points a game, but I want to make (teams guard) me. You don't want to have an open shot and have defenders sag inside."
Price time - Ronnie Price could be one of the first Kings players off the bench tonight in Portland, with the rookie promising to emulate regular point guard backup Jason Hart: steady play, no turnovers.
Price said he won't stress about trying to secure a roster spot. Hart will sit out tonight's action to rest his hip pointer, kicking open the door.
"My job as a point guard behind someone like Jason is to be a leader," Price said. "If it means more minutes, it means I have to step it up."
Pessimistic Nash - Portland general manager John Nash said the Blazers and Kings are similar in terms of popularity, only Kings fans should expect another winner and Portland should exercise patience after suffering through a 27-55 season in 2004-05, its poorest since 1973-74. "We have a lot in common with the Kings and Sacramento," he said. "We're revered here. We reap the rewards of all the attention. We're experiencing an up-tick right now. The fans love our direction, but I'm not sure if they're patient enough with the maturation on the floor. We're not going to win 49-50 games. Maybe winning half of that will be a chore."
By Joe Davidson
Mike Bibby dismisses it as a preseason funk. He's missing shots.
"Brad (Miller) says I never make shots in the preseason anyway, so I'm not worried about it," said Bibby, the Kings' normally sharp-shooting guard. "I'm shooting to make them; they're just not going in. I'll get there. I'm still trying to get into that midseason shape."
Bibby has made 12 of 35 attempts through four preseason games, but a marksman as good as Bibby had hoped to be more on line by now. He missed 8 of 9 shots against Denver in 27 minutes Tuesday. Late in the third period, Bibby finally scored - on a free throw - and the Arco Arena crowd roared as if to let him know they had his back.
"I was nervous walking up to the line, and (the crowd) broke the ice a little," Bibby said. "I could be more aggressive, and that's probably part of why I'm not shooting better."
Said Kings coach Rick Adelman: "We'll find out (if he's on his game). Guys in training camp and exhibition seasons sometimes don't go as hard as they probably should. I talked to Mike. He's got to be the guy to lead us out on the floor. We'll find out when the games are for real where he is. He's usually ready. He's a gamer. Always has been."
Skinner inside out - Brian Skinner has been effective scoring inside on putbacks and dunks, and the reserve center has shown he can pop the short jumper.
He's had games of six, seven, 10 and seven points, hardly Shaq-like, but not bad for a defensive guy.
"I work a lot on my offensive game," Skinner said. "I'm not one to score 25 or 30 points a game, but I want to make (teams guard) me. You don't want to have an open shot and have defenders sag inside."
Price time - Ronnie Price could be one of the first Kings players off the bench tonight in Portland, with the rookie promising to emulate regular point guard backup Jason Hart: steady play, no turnovers.
Price said he won't stress about trying to secure a roster spot. Hart will sit out tonight's action to rest his hip pointer, kicking open the door.
"My job as a point guard behind someone like Jason is to be a leader," Price said. "If it means more minutes, it means I have to step it up."
Pessimistic Nash - Portland general manager John Nash said the Blazers and Kings are similar in terms of popularity, only Kings fans should expect another winner and Portland should exercise patience after suffering through a 27-55 season in 2004-05, its poorest since 1973-74. "We have a lot in common with the Kings and Sacramento," he said. "We're revered here. We reap the rewards of all the attention. We're experiencing an up-tick right now. The fans love our direction, but I'm not sure if they're patient enough with the maturation on the floor. We're not going to win 49-50 games. Maybe winning half of that will be a chore."
